Congregational Church (Schools), Flixton Road, Urmston

CONGREGATIONALISM AT URMSTON – The foundation stone of the Urmston and Flixton Congregational Schools was laid on Saturday by Mr Henry Lee. The building, which is to be in early Gothic style, will be of brick, faced with stone, and will contain two storeys, one for a school and the other for a temporary place of worship. Accommodation will be provided for about 300 worshippers. The building will cost about £2,120. Mr R F Tolson of Manchester is the architect, and the contractors are Messrs Maben and Fairnington also of this city. It is proposed in the course of time to build a chapel, plans of which have been prepared. [Manchester Guardian 22 September 1879 page 8]

URMSTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH – The opening services of the Urmston and Flixton Congregational Church were commenced yesterday. The building, which is situated in Edge Lane, Urmston, is bold yet thoroughly ecclesiastical in appearance, the style being early Gothic. The principal features to the front are a large five-light window and a double entrance doorway. The ground floor consists of a schoolroom to accommodate 200 children, two classrooms, and an infants’ school, separate entrances being provided for each. The first floor is used for church purposes, with accommodation for 300 worshippers, and there are vestries for the minister and deacons. The whole of the internal woodwork is stained and varnished. Special attention has been paid to the heating and ventilation. The building is of brick, with stone dressings to the front. The contract was given to Messrs Maben and Fairnington for £2,120, and that sum has not been exceeded, the total cost of the building being about £2,200. The architect is Mr R F Tolson, Barton House, Deansgate, and in design, execution, and cost the work is very creditable. …. The building just completed is intended to be used ultimately for school purposes only, and a church is to be erected on an adjoining plot of land. [Manchester Guardian 11 June 1880 page 3]

Schools situated on Flixton Road, The Congregational Church was eventually built on the adjoining site bounded by Flixton Road/Wycliffe Road. Demolished about 1979

Reference    Building News 4 July 1879 page 31
Reference    British Architect 26 September 1879 Page 126
Reference    Manchester Guardian 22 September 1879 page 8 –foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 11 June 1880 page 3 – opening