Presbyterian Church, Upper Chorlton Road, Whalley Range
It is proposed to erect a new Presbyterian Church at Whalley Range in Manchester on a plot of ground on the Chorlton-cum-Hardy road near Brook’s Bar. Accommodation is to be provided for 500 and £4000 is to be expended. A limited competition among five architects has resulted in the selection of Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods to carry out the work. [British Architect 18 April 1884 Page 195]
Presbyterian Church, Whalley Range. We learn that the drawings submitted Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods, architects, 29, Brown Street, Manchester, in competition for the proposed New Presbyterian Church of England, at Whalley Range, have been awarded the first premium. [Manchester Courier 5 May 1885 page 6]
NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WHALLEY RANGE – On Saturday afternoon the memorial stone of a Presbyterian church which is now in course of erection at the corner of Stamford Street, Brooks’s Bar, was laid by Mr Samuel Stitt. The church, which is to be erected from the designs of Messrs Mangnall and Littlewood, architects, of this city, is intended to accommodate the united congregations of Coupland Street and Whalley Range, which were formally amalgamated a year ago. The church will be a conspicuous object from the surrounding district, as it will have a tower and spire 110 feet high. The building will be 81 feet long and 44 feet wide, the roof being in one span and without any internal columns, which will have the effect of giving everyone a clear unobstructed view of the pulpit. There will be accommodation in the church for 540 sittings. The organ and choir will be placed in the north-east transept. The whole of the windows have tracery heads, filled in with tinted lead lights. The entire building is to cost about £4,600. [Manchester Guardian 12 October 1885 page 7]
NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WHALLEY RANGE – On Saturday afternoon the memorial stone of a Presbyterian church which is now in course of erection at the corner of Stamford Street, Brooks’s Bar, was laid by Mr Samuel Stitt. The church, which is to be erected from the designs of Messrs Mangnall and Littlewood, architects, of this city, is intended to accommodate the united congregations of Coupland Street and Whalley Range, which were formally amalgamated a year ago. The church will be a conspicuous object from the surrounding district, as it will have a tower and spire 110 feet high. The building will be 81 feet long and 44 feet wide, the roof being in one span and without any internal columns, which will have the effect of giving everyone a clear unobstructed view of the pulpit. There will be accommodation in the church for 540 sittings. The organ and choir will be placed in the north-east transept. The whole of the windows have tracery heads, filled in with tinted lead lights. The entire building is to cost about £4,600. [Manchester Guardian 12 October 1885 page 7]
NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WHALLEY RANGE - On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Samuel Stitt, of Birkenhead, laid the memorial stone of a new Presbyterian church which is in course of erection at Whalley Range. Notwithstanding a bleak wind, accompanied by occasional showers of rain, there was an assemblage of the Presbyterians of the district, and other denominations were well represented. The site chosen is at the junction of Upper Chorlton-road and Stamford-street, and the church is to supply the requirements of the united congregations of Coupland-street and Whalley Range. The designs selected are those by Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods, architects, of this city. Tho tender of Mr. Kendall was accepted for excavating brickwork, and masonry, amounting to £2,805, and that of Messrs. Wilson, Tott, and Huntley, for the joiners, work, slating, plumbing and glazing, and plastering and painting, amounting to £1,795. The contracts include, in addition to the church, the erection of church officer's house, built at the north angle of the plot, fronting Stamford-street, and separated from the church by the existing building, containing the lecture hall and schools. The church will be conspicuous from the surrounding district, having a, tower and spire 110 feet in height. The church is 81 feet long and 44 feet wide, the roof being in one span and without any internal columns, which gives to every sitting a clear and unobstructed view of the pulpit. The floor will be composed of wood blocks set to pattern and will have an inclination of 2feet from the front of church to the communion, and has pew accommodation for 540 sittings. The organ and choir are situated in the north-east transept. The whole of the windows have tracery heads filled in with tinted lead light. Ihe pew framing, pulpit, roof principals, and ceiling are all constructed of selected pitch pine, varnished. Ihe acoustic properties are expected to be of a favourable character, the inside construction of the ceiling having a circular form, this being considered the best for the travelling of sound, recesses being formed to prevent reverberation. Ventilation is also adequately provided for. Communication is made between the church and the existing lecture hall by two doorways, right and left of the pulpit at the end of passages. Both doorways lead into a corridor screened off from central hall by a glazed partition; on the left hand of this corridor is the minister’s vestry. The right hand side communicates with the external entrance to the lecture hall. [Manchester Courier 13 October 1885 page 8]
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHALLEY RANGE - This building is erected to accommodate the united congregations of Coupland-street and Whalley Range, formally amalgamated last October, the committee of which resolved upon having a limited competition and invited five architects to make designs for the building, which were sent in last March, the design of Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewoods. of Manchester. being selected for carrying out. Tenders were procured from various contractors, and were let in two amounts, the tender of Mr. Kendall being accepted for excavating, brickwork, and masonry, amounting to £2,805, and the tender of Messrs. Wilson, Toft, and Huntley being accepted for the joiners' work, slating, plumbing and glazing, and plastering and painting, amounting to £1,795 ; the contract including (in addition to the church) the erection of church officer's house, built at the north angle of the plot fronting Stamford-street, and separated from the church by the existing building containing the lecture hall and schools. The church is situated on the site at the corner of Upper Chorlton-road and Stamford-street, and will be conspicuous from the surrounding district, having a tower and spire 110feet in height. The external walls are faced with Halifax pierpoints and ashlar stone dressings. The building will be approached from entrance gates in Upper Chorlton-road, leading to a portico having three arches supported with grey granite columns; folding doors lead from the portico to a vestibule, which communicates with the church by two pairs of screen doors. The church is 81 feet long and 44 feet wide, the roof being in one span and without any internal columns, which gives to every sitting a clear and unobstructed view of the pulpit. The floor will be composed of wood blocks set to pattern and will have an inclination of 2 feet from the front of church to the Communion and has pew accommodation for 540 sittings. One of the principal features in the arrangement of the plan is that each sitting directly faces the pulpit, the side pews being made to radiate from a point of sight taken from the pulpit. There are two passages, each* 'I feet wide, leading to a semicircular passage inclosing the pulpit and Communion. The organ and choir are situated in the north-east transept. Two cloak- rooms are provided, communicating with the vestibule, one being for ladies on the left-hand side of entrance, and the other for gentlemen on the right-hand side of entrance, provided with lavatories, etc. The whole of the windows have tracery heads, filled in with tinted lead-lights. The pew-framing, pulpit, roof, principals, and ceiling are all constructed of selected pitch pine varnished. The acoustic properties of the building are expected to be of a favourable character; the inside construction of the ceiling has a circular form; this being considered the best for the travelling of sound—and recesses are formed to prevent reverberation. Ventilation is provided for by openings in the ceiling, communicating with a longitudinal wood trunk formed in the inner portion of roof, and connected with the external atmosphere by small dormers. A small casement- light is also provided in the centre of each three-light window. Fresh air is admitted in each window sill by a hit-and-miss grid, communicating with the external atmosphere by a flue and perforated opening above the external base course. Communication is made between the church and the existing lecture-hall by two doorways, right and left of the pulpit at the end of passages. Both doorways lead into a corridor screened off from central hall by a glazed partition; on the left hand of this corridor is the minister's vestry; the right-hand side communicates with the external entrance to lecture-hall. The church officer's house joins up to lecture-hall, and contains, on the ground floor, sitting-room, 12feet by 11feet, with bay window; kitchen, 12feet by 10 feet; yard, and outbuildings; and on the first pair floor there would be two bedrooms and bathroom. An internal communication is made in the lobby- entrance of church officer's house with the lecture-hall. [Building News 25 December 1885 page 1028]
WHALLEY RANGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - The new church for the recently united congregations of Coupland Street and Whalley Range Presbyterian Churches, erected in the Upper Chorlton Road, at the corner of Stamford Street, Whalley Range, is now practically completed. The structure, which is from the designs of Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods, architects, of this city, has cost between £6,000 and £7,000, and provision is made for 560 sittings. The church will be formally opened on Tuesday evening 28th inst, when Dr Dykes, of London, will preach, the opening services being continued on Sunday October 3, when the preachers will be Dr Scott and Dr Corbett. [Manchester Guardian 17 September 1886 page 6]
The church was formally opened on Tuesday 28 September 1886
Reference British Architect 18 April 1884 Page 195
Reference Manchester Courier 5 May 1884 page 6
Reference Manchester Guardian 12 October 1885 page 7 – memorial stone
Reference Manchester Courier 13 October 1885 page 8
Reference Building News 25 December 1885 page 1028
Reference Manchester Guardian 17 September 1886 page 6 - opening