St Saviours Upper Brook Street Chorlton-on-Medlock

St Saviour's Church was endowed by Scholes Birch Esq the father of Rev Edward Birch, the former curate of All Saints and the intended incumbent of the new church. Consecrated on 11 November 1836 by the Bishop of Chester, under the terms of the Churches Act, one third of the sittings were free. The church was built in the Grecian style according to the Manchester Guardian. 88 feet 9 inches by 73 feet 10 inches and contained 1785 seats of which 596 were free. Shallow galleries on three sides, all seats having a good view of the pulpit and reading desk. Internally the church was lit by five Grecian style windows on each side together with a large Grecian window at the north-east end behind the altar. Hot water heating pipes. It stood on Upper Brook Street “at the entrance to Plymouth Grove.” At the time of its consecration the tower was incomplete having been taken just above roof level. All the entrances were on the principal frontage to Upper Brook Street, said by the Manchester Guardian to resemble the Friends Meeting House on Dickinson Street. Internally doors set at right angles formed a draught lobby.  An arcade, upheld by two stone pillars at the front of the building, adds considerably to its appearance, but it is singularly destitute of architectural beauty. The interior, though spacious, is extremely plain; and as all the large windows lighting the building are filled with frosted glass, there is little of that “dim religious light,” so much sought for in the construction of more modern churches.

In 1836, Chorlton-on-Medlock was still a pleasant suburb of Manchester and the church attracted a large and fashionable congregation. However, as the century progressed the population of the district increased dramatically and many of the more important families moved further away. To satisfy the demand for church accommodation in the vicinity St Stephen's and St Paul's churches were built.  Vaults below St Saviours's church contained the remains of several members of the Birch family, while in the churchyard were buried several well-known Manchester men including Sir James Bardsley MD, Dr John Thorburn, Professor Grace-Calvert, the Rev William Doyle and Mr John Maclure, father of the Dean of Manchester.

Hayley’s church was demolished 1962. It was rebuilt and dedicated 21 March 1964, the replacement church was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.

Reference : Manchester Guardian - Saturday 12 Nov 1836. Page 3 Col 1
Reference : Manchester Faces & Places Volume 6 Page 176 (with photograph)