Presbyterian Church and Schools Singleton Road Higher Broughton

• Foundation: 10 September 1873
• Formal Opening : 17 January 1875

NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND SCHOOLS AT HIGHER BROUGHTON - The corner stone of the new Presbyterian church and schools, situated in Singleton road, Higher Broughton, was laid on Wednesday by the Hon. G H Stuart of Philadelphia U. S. whose brother, Mr J Stuart bears the entire cost of the erection of the building. The church and schools, the foundations for which are already completed, will consist of a nave 74 feet 4 inches long by 29 feet 4 inches wide, with aisles on either side 8 feet wide and transepts 26 feet 4 inches wide (the latter containing galleries for school children) at the south end of the church, right and left of the pulpit platform. A graceful and lofty tower and spire, the latter ornamented by single pinnacles, rise from the west or right hand side of the front elevation; and on the opposite side of the same front is a lower tower, surmounted by a pyramidal slate roof, terminating in a metal finial. Each of these side towers serve as entrance porches, which are gained by arched and moulded doorways of elaborate design. An arcaded corridor, stretching across the whole front of the nave, joins these two entrance porches, and from this corridor access is obtained into the two main aisles or passageways between the seats of the church. The side walls of the church are divided into four bays in addition to the transept gables; those to the aisles contain each a two light window with large traceried circle in the head, the whole contained within a pointed arch and the clerestory has coupled circles with sexfoil tracery. The front gable over the arcaded corridor between the main entrances is enriched by a large wheel window under a spacious pointed arch, supported on carved caps and columns and finished with a decorated finial. The transept gables have circular rose windows with four small lancet lights below. The style of the architecture is early French Gothic, freely treated. The seats and timbers throughout are pitch pine. The eave(sic) arcade consists of five lofty arches supported on ornamental columns. Behind the pulpit platform, in a large arched recess, and raised 8 feet above the church floor will be placed the singers' gallery, having the organ immediately behind. The pulpit platform will be of very elaborate work and constructed chiefly of pitch pine, inlaid with mahogany, French polished and painted and gilded metal scroll work. The communion space in front will be enclosed by a railing designed to match the pulpit. On each side of the steps leading to the pulpit is an arched and traceried door, opening from the church into the long corridor of the school buildings.  On the ground floor of these back buildings are placed the session rooms of the minister and the deacons' vestries, and also the caretaker's residence; and beneath the latter are cellars and the usual conveniences. From the back corridor rise tow staircases of ornamental design in pitch pine, ascending to the large lecture hall, extending the whole length of the rear building and finished with an open timbered roof. An opening will be left in the wall between the organ recess and the lecture hall, and provided with movable shutters in order that the organ may be available in the lecture hall as well as in the church. Messrs Price and Linklater are the architects, Messrs Neill & Sons are the contractors and the total cost is about £7,000. The church is to accommodate over 600 adults, and the lecture hall about 300. [Salford Chronicle 13 September 1873. Page 2]

The church was badly damaged by enemy action in December 1940. It was subsequently re-opened and re-dedicated. It finally closed about 1970 and was later demolished, Regent Court being built on the site.

George H Stuart was President of the Merchants’ National Bank, Philadelphia and head of Stuart and Brother Philadelphia. The failure of David Stuart and Company of Liverpool with which he was associated, led to his bankruptcy.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 11 September 1873, page 6
Reference    Salford Chronicle 13 September 1873 Page 2
Reference    Builder 8 November 1873 Page 894
Reference    MG Wednesday 13 January 1875 Page 1 - Notice of opening
Reference    Manchester Guardian Monday 18 January 1875 page 6 – opening
Reference    Building News 22 January 1875. page 106-107
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 July 1957 page* - bomb damage