Church of St George, Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester

A new church replacing a brick church of 1798. The provision of this new church was a result of expansion plans by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. In order to improve access to the upper level of their Oldham Road railway goods yard, a new incline was required. However, its construction required the demolition of the earlier church and it was a condition of the approval to these works that a new church be provided. The new building was of red brick with black brick ornament. Pillars of stone with carved capitals. Some carving was paid for by private donors and others by the Sunday school. High clerestory. Cost £5,000. Reredos of Painswick stone from Gloucestershire, the work of T. Earp & Co of London and Manchester, paid for by C. J. Heywood. The church opened 27 January 1877 and was consecrated by Bishop Fraser 16 March 1877.  A new parsonage was also completed in the same year. The spire, crowning a very high tower was added in 1887.

St George’s Church, Oldham Road, was consecrated yesterday morning by the Bishop of Manchester. The church has been built in lieu of the old church of the same name which was consecrated in 1818 and which was recently acquired by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company for the extension of their Oldham Road goods station. For the site of the old church the company paid £5,000 and the materials in the old structure produced a few hundred pounds more. Of this sum, however, no less than £4,000 was spent in the purchase of a site for the newly completed building which stands to the front of Oldham Road, and is conveniently situated near the parish schools. ..... The church has cost £6,400, and the parsonage house (which has been erected on part of the land secures) £1,665. ... The church, like the parsonage house, is of brick and in the Gothic style of architecture. Its striking characteristics, as the Bishop observed in his sermon, are solidity, simplicity and suitability for the purpose of public worship. A tower and spire are to be added to the church at some future period. The designs, which were selected in a limited competition, are by Mr Henry Lord, of Diocesan Chambers, John Dalton Street. The general contractor for the church is Mr James Herd of Bristol Street, Hulme. [Manchester Guardian 17 March 1877 page7]

CONSECRATION OF ST GEORGE’S CHURCH, OLDHAM-ROAD - Yesterday morning the Bishop of Manchester, consecrated the new church of St George, which has been in course of erection in Oldham Road, Manchester, for the past seven years. The church has been built to replace the old church of the same name, which was purchased for sum of £5,000 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to extend their goods yard in Oldham-road.   The very irregular character of the new site presented from the outset considerable obstacles to the production a regular and harmonious plan, while the way in which it was hemmed in two sides by surrounding buildings seemed prevent the distribution of light any adequate proportion the several parts. The arrangement adopted by the architect has dealt very successfully with the problem presented to him. The church been placed along the greatest length of the site, thus presenting its main gable to Oldham-road, while the chancel has a frontage to Apollo-street. The parsonage is placed on the remaining portion of the site in such a way as to secure ample space for light round three of its sides. The church has been provided with three public entrances, one from Apollo-street, through ambulatory passing under the organ loft, one by a porch facing the parsonage, and the other the principal doorway under the tower and spire which will ultimately rise to the height of 160 feet at one side of the Oldham-road front. The vestry is also provided with a separate entrance from Apollo-street. The exterior and interior walls of the church have been faced with stock bricks, stone, and terra cotta being made use of for the more ornamental portions. The otherwise excellent acoustic properties of the church have been increased by the plain wood-vaulted roof that spans the nave and chancel, and which, over the latter, has been enriched by the use of panelling intended ultimately for coloured decoration. Seating has been provided for the accommodation of 600 persons. It heated hot air from a warming apparatus in the basement on Haden’s principle. The style adopted is gothic of the thirteenth century subject to the constructional requirements the materials employed its erection. The elevation receives dignity from its lofty two-light windows, their heads filled in with geometrical tracery, its arcade of terra cotta, and the tower with its gabled entrance porch and circular staircase. The funds at the disposal the committee have, however, prevented them yet from carrying the tower beyond the ringing stage. The elevation to Apollo-street presents a similar character in its main features. In the interior a similar treatment with the addition of coloured bricks, strings, and label moulds in terra cotta has been carried out. The view, looking towards the chancel, with its three tall shafted windows, and rose window over, and the elegant fittings of choir seats and pulpit, gives an impression of richness and height to the building. The two nave arches at this end have been inverted inwards by the architect, as to make the walls of the chancel form an abutment receive their thrust. A noticeable feature is the way in which the baptistery has received emphasis and effect by the insertion of a smaller shaft and arches between the large piers of the nave. The treatment of the parsonage has been consistently carried out to form an effective and harmonious group with the towering lines of the church. The work has been carried out from designs (which were selected in a limited competition), by Mr Henry Lord, 42, John Dalton Street. The general contractor for the church is Mr. James Herd, Bristol Street, Hulme. The sub-contractors are Mr Healey, bricklayer, and Mr. Isaac Kirkham, stone mason. The glazing throughout has been executed Lavers and Berraud, and the iron work by Messrs. Freeman and Collier, from the designs the architect. Gas fittings have been supplied by Messrs Thomason, Deansgate, and the heating arrangements wore carried out by Messrs. Haden. The general contract for the parsonage has been carried out by Mr Burnell, and the brick and mason work by Mr L. Rome. [Manchester Courier 17 March 1877 page 6]

Reference    Building News 23 March 1877 Page 305
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 March 1877 page7
Reference    Manchester Courier 17 March 1877 page 6
Reference    Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Volume 2, Page 46
Reference    Manchester Faces & Places Vol IX