Diocesan Chambers King Street and South King Street Manchester

THE NEW MANCHESTER DIOCESAN BUILDINGS. We are informed that the Directors of the Manchester Diocesan Building Company Limited have selected the plans of Messrs Horton and Bridgford, architects of this city, for the proposed new block of diocesan buildings in King Street and South King Street. The elevation will be a four storeyed building, the basement consisting of cellars and the ground floor as shops. The first floor will be devoted to a suite of diocesan chambers, while the second floor will be occupied by the Diocesan Board of Finance, Church Building Society and Board of Education, and a large room for meetings connected with various diocesan organisations. The principal entrance to the building, which will be known hereafter as the Manchester Diocesan Chambers, will be in South King Street, at the corner of the narrow outlet running into King Street, known as Four Yards. In the selection of the plans Mr James Murgatroyd acted as referee. [Manchester Guardian 23 May 1883 page 5]

THE MANCHESTER DIOCESAN BUILDINGS. The first statutory meeting of the shareholders of the Manchester Diocesan Building Company Limited was held yesterday (30 May 1883). ... It was reported that the site in King Street had been conveyed, that the plans of Messrs Horton and Bridgford had been approved and that operations for the commencement of the structure would commence forthwith. [Manchester Guardian 31 May 1883 page 5]

THE NEW MANCHESTER DIOCESAN BUILDINGS On Saturday last the old home of the Diocesan Registry at No 7 St James’s Square, after having been in use for over36 years, was vacated, and this morning the Registry takes up its quarters in the new diocesan chambers in South King Street. … Early in 1883 the “Manchester Diocesan Building Company was formed. Ultimately a site on South King Street, bounded by what is known as “Four Yards” was secured.

The style of the new building is late Gothic. The entrance to the offices is in South King Street, through a mosaic paved vestibule. The traceried entrance doors and inner swing doors are in dark oak, the latter filled in the upper panels and fanlight with ornamental lead lights. The main staircase is in dark oak, and gas panelled and moulded dado; it is covered with an open timber roof having glazed lights at the top, and receives additional light in the rear from an arcaded area, lined with glazed tiles and covered with a glass roof, ventilation being provided by means of continuous louvres. This staircase communicates on each floor with a passage leading to the several suites of offices. On the first floor arrangements have been made for the Bishop’s private room, with a suite of rooms to be used as the Diocesan Registry, which includes rooms for the Registrar, Bishop’s Secretary, Clerk’s offices, and waiting room. On the same floor, facing South King Street, is the office of the Secretary of the Board of Finance, with an office adjoining for the clerks of the Board. On the second floor is the Boardroom (in which most probably the Consistory Courts will be held) and a suite of offices which will be devoted to the business of the Diocesan Church Building Society, Board of Education, and other institutions connected with the diocese. Over the staircase in South King Street entrance fireproof strong-rooms are provided for the reception of the deeds and documents of the Diocesan Registry and Diocesan Societies. The work has been very satisfactorily executed by Messrs Cordingley and Stopford, contractors, of this city. Messrs Horton and Bridgford are the architects. [Manchester Guardian 29 September 1884 page 8]

MANCHESTER - The new Diocesan Chambers in King-street will be opened by the Bishop of Manchester on Tuesday, the 30th inst. The buildings have frontages to King-street, Four Yards, and South King Street. The style adopted is an extremely unostentatious type of Late Gothic. The exterior facing is of brick work, into which terracotta and stone dressings are introduced, and on each face are lofty gables. The ground floor is arranged to be let off as shops; in the principal part of the building the various diocesan offices will be concentrated, and the rooms will be let off as offices. Messrs. Horton and Bridgeford, of Cooper- street, Manchester, are the architects, and the contractors are Messrs. Cordingley and Stopford, of the same city. [Building News 19 September 1884 page 481]

MANCHESTER  — On Saturday last the Manchester Diocesan Registry took up its quarters in the new Diocesan Chambers in South King-street. The architects are Messrs. Horton and Bridgford, of Manchester. The style of the new building is Late Gothic. The entrance to the offices is in South King-street, through a mosaic paved vestibule. On the first floor arrangements have been made for the Bishop's private room, with a suite of rooms to be used as a diocesan registry, which include rooms for the Registrar, Bishop's Secretary, Clerk's offices, and waiting room. On the same floor, facing South King-street, is the office of the Secretary of the Board of Finance, with an office adjoining for the clerks of the board. On the second floor is the boardroom, and a suite of offices which will be devoted to the business of the Diocesan Church Building Society, Board of Education, and other institutions connected with the diocese. Over the staircase of the South King-street entrance fire proof strongrooms are provided. The work has been executed by Messrs. Cordingley and Stopford, contractors, of Manchester. [Building News 3 October 1883 page 564]

The new Manchester Diocesan Buildings, erected in South King-street, from the design of Messrs. Horton and Bridgford, were taken possession of by the registry on the 29th ult. The new premises, which are of Late Gothic character, give the following accommodation: On the first floor the bishop's private room, with a suite of rooms to be used as a diocesan registry, which include rooms for the registrar, bishop's secretary, clerk's offices, and waiting-room, together with the office of the secretary of the Board of Finance, and an office adjoining lor the clerks of the board. On the second floor the boardroom (in which most probably the Consistory Courts will be held) and a suite of offices which will be devoted to the business of the Diocesan Church Building Society, Board of Education, and other institutions connected with the diocese. Over the staircase of the South King-street entrance fireproof strongrooms are provided for the reception of the deeds and documents of the diocesan registry and diocesan societies. The work has been carried out by Messrs. Cordingley & Stopford, contractors, of Manchester. [British Architect 10 October 1884 page 178]

The new Manchester Diocesan Buildings, erected in South King-street, from the design of Messrs. Horton and Bridgford, were taken possession of by the registry on the 29th ult. The new premises, which are of Late Gothic character, give the following accommodation: On the first floor the bishop's private room, with a suite of rooms to be used as a diocesan registry, which include rooms for the registrar, bishop's secretary, clerk's offices, and waiting-room, together with the office of the secretary of the Board of Finance, and an office adjoining lor the clerks of the board. On the second floor the boardroom (in which most probably the Consistory Courts will be held) and a suite of offices which will be devoted to the business of the Diocesan Church Building Society, Board of Education, and other institutions connected with the diocese. Over the staircase of the South King-street entrance fireproof strong-rooms are provided for the reception of the deeds and documents of the diocesan registry and diocesan societies. The work has been carried out by Messrs. Cordingley & Stopford, contractors, of Manchester. [British Architect 10 October 1884 page 178]

Reference        Manchester Guardian 23 May 1883 page 5 - Ecclesiastical Intelligence
Reference        Manchester Guardian 31 May 1883 page 5 - Ecclesiastical Intelligence
Reference        British Architect 1 June 1883 Page 273
Reference        Manchester Guardian 29 September 1884 page 8
Reference        Building News 19 September 1884 page 481
Reference        Building News 3 October 1883 page 564
Reference        British Architect 10 October 1884 page 178