Church of St Patrick (RC) Livesley Street Rochdale Road Manchester

Catholics throughout the Diocese of Salford and elsewhere have long looked forward to the dawning of Sunday, September 20, 1936, for it will mark another milestone in the history of the world famous parish of St. Patrick's, Manchester. Sunday will see the solemn blessing and opening of a new St. Patrick's Church by Mgr. Thomas Henshaw, Bishop of Salford, who was born and reared in this very parish. This magnificent church has cost £34,000 to build and it is a fitting and lasting tribute to God and St. Patrick.

The new church provides accommodation for 1,300 people, whereas the old church only seated 600. In addition there are seats for another 100 in the organ gallery over the main entrance. It is basilican in type with narthex, side aisles, and apse. Richly decorated, the new church gives room for processional purposes. The columns between the nave and aisles are of scagliola with black marble bases, and have Corinthian capitals carved out of Hopton Wood stone: the arcading above being of the same stone. A frieze of fibrous plaster decorated with medallions runs above the arches and below the clerestory windows. The narthex is 73 feet wide and 14 feet deep. The nave is 120 feet long and 50 feet high, and the transepts are 45 feet long. The choir are seated in the gallery over the narthex. Chapels are provided at each side of the sanctuary and there are six confessionals and four shrines in the aisles. The new church has been designed by Mr. Harold Greenhalgh of Bolton, Lancashire, and The Moston Brick Co., of Moston, Manchester, are the builders and contractors.

It is 104 years ago last February since St. Patrick's was officially opened as the first Catholic place of worship to be established in Manchester after the passing of the Emancipation Act in 1829. Its establishment was brought about by the large influx of Irish immigrants who were attracted to the city by its industry. The original church was built after the style so often seen in Ireland. [Catholic Herald 18 September 1936 Page 11 and 15]

Reference    Builder 20 October 1933 page 634
Reference    Builder 5 January 1934 Page 27
Reference    Builder 12 January 1934 Page 108
Reference    Manchester City News 6 January 1934 Page 12 Column 7
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 January 1935 Page 10 with illustration
Reference    Builder 25 January 1935
Reference    Builder 1 February 1935 Page 245
Reference    Catholic Herald 18 September 1936 Page 11 and 15