St Catherine’s Church, Collyhurst Road, Newtown, Collyhurst

The church, which was only commenced about five months ago, is a neat rectangular edifice, Gothic in character and in its construction coloured bricks have been employed to pleasing effect. It stands upon land, the gift of the Earl of Derby and is easy of access. The roof interiorly differs from those ordinarily seen, in having most of its timbers covered with plaster, the principals and purlins alone being visible. This, however, weakens rather than increases the effect, in an architectural point of view. Under the chancel arch stand the pitch-pine pulpit and reading desk, which are chaste and becoming in design. The stone font, with marble basin, is in a small baptistry off the chancel steps. Hartley's quarry glass has been used on the windows which have iron mullions and stone cuspings, and the light reflected is subdued and agreeable. Three of the seven compartments into which the roof is divided are occupied by sunflowers and from them descend the sunlights which illuminate the entire gallery and nave; the aisles are lighted by brackets. The stalls are very commodious, stained and varnished, with iron ends and will seat 900 persons; about 380 of the seats being in the gallery. Hot water pipes are used in heating the church and a thorough ventilation has been secured. The architects are Messrs Speakman and Charlesworth, Cross-street and the builders Messrs Cochran & Company, Oxford-street. The contract for the church is under £1700; but with the party wall, heating apparatus, etc., the total cost will be nearly £2000. It has been built and endowed principally by the congregation of St Paul's Church, Higher Broughton; two of its members have each contributed £1000 towards the object. The entire sum raised for the joint purposes of the building and endowment is £5000. Situated in the centre of a large population, dependent for support on their weekly earnings, St Catherine's is eminently "the poor man's church." So anxious indeed were its promoters that this should be its character, that they altogether set aside elaborate ornamentation, believing that a "fine" church would repel rather than attract those for whose use the edifice was more particularly designed. [Manchester Guardian 7 November 1859 Page 4]

CONSECRATION OF ST CATHERINE’S CHURCH, NEWTOWN On Saturday last St Catherine’s Church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Manchester. The new church is situated on what is known as Travis Island; it is reached by a small bridge over the river Irk, at Newtown, in the neighbourhood of Angel, Meadow, and is in the parish of St. Thomas's, Red Bank.  .The church is of brick, from designs by Messrs Speakman and Charlesworth architects, and has been built by, Messrs A Cochrane and Company, Manchester. There Is accommodation for about 850persons, and the cost of the building does not exceed £2,000. The land has been given by the Earl of Derby…. [Manchester Times 12 November 1859 page 6]

MANCHESTER St. Catherine's Church, Newtown, Collyhurst Road, has been consecrated. The church stands on "Travis's Island," and is reached by a small bridge over the Irk, at Newtown, in the neighbourhood of Angel Meadow, and is in the parish of St. Thomas, Red Bank. It is a rectangular edifice, Gothic in character, and in its construction a combination of coloured bricks has been employed. The site was a gift of the Earl of Derby. The roof, interiorly, has most of its timbers covered with plaster, the principals and purlins alone being visible. Hartley's quarry glass has been used the windows. Three of the seven compartments into Which the roof is divided are occupied by sunflowers  from them depend sunlights which illuminate the entire gallery and nave; the aisles are lighted by brackets. The stalls are stained and varnished, with iron ends, and will seat 900 persons. Hot-water pipes are used in heating the church. The architects are Messrs. Speakman and Charlesworth; and the builders, Messrs. Cochran & Co. all of Manchester. The contract for the church is under £1,700; but, with the party-wall, heating apparatus, etc, the total cost will be £2,000. [Builder 19 November 1859 page 766]

Consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester on Saturday 5 November 1859.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 November 1859 Page 4 Column 3
Reference    Manchester Courier 12 November 1859 page 9 (as MG)
Reference    Manchester Times 12 November 1859 page 6
Reference    Builder 19 November 1859 page 766
Reference    Dobbs: Like a Mighty Tortoise