Queen Victoria Memorial School Church, Eccles New Road, Weaste

The foundation stone of the school-church was laid on 18 October 1902 and the building opened on 20 June 1903 as a Mission School-Church in connection with St Luke’s Church Weaste. In 1909 the building was altered and extended to the designs of Lingen Barker to form All Saints’ Church (qv) consecrated on 31 January 1910. A separate Sunday School was erected about the same time.

Messrs Royle and Bennett. Architects, Manchester have prepared a design for a new mission church to be erected in St Luke’s parish, Weaste as a memorial to Queen Victoria. The main building is to seat 400 people and there will be in addition two classrooms transepts together with a chancel which can be cut off from the main building. The estimated cost is £2,000. [British Architect 27 December 1901 Page 498].

The Victoria Church, Weaste, serves a double purpose, i.e., on weekdays it will be used as a school, and on Sundays as a church. The sanctuary being enclosed during school time by sliding doors arranged under the rood beam. The sitting accommodation provided in the church is for 400 people, including the choir. The general seating will be by chairs; stalls are provided for the choir. The plan of the building is cruciform, composed of nave, choir, and two transepts. The sanctuary is well raised above the nave. A vestry for the clergy and one for the choir with a porch to each is provided. The two principal entrances east and west are near Eccles New Road; between these is placed the carved stone and alabaster font in an enclosed recess, forming an interesting feature of the church There have been numerous and varied gifts of chancel fittings, i.e., pulpit, prayer-desk, altar table, carved reredos, with a large figure painting framed in the same. The building is heated by means of the hot water system (low pressure) by Messrs. Saunders and Taylor, of Lower Mosley Street, Manchester. The walls externally are of red Accrington bricks. It is divided into five bays and is roofed by open principals with timbers showing with curved braces throughout. The roofs are all covered by red tiles. At the north end gable a feature is a gabled turret with bell and ventilator. The building is lighted by mullioned windows of wood of three lights generally with plain traceried heads, all glazed with plain leaded glass, by Mr. Leyland, the chancel window containing a cross and 8 crown. The contract has been carried out by Mr. J. F. Moore of Eccles, from the designs and under the superintendence of Messrs. Royle and Bennett, architects, of Manchester, for the sum of about £2,800. The site (which is of considerable value) has been given by the sons of Mr. John Dugdale. The ceremony of opening the building took place on the 20th ult. when the Rev. Canon Scott addressed a large congregation, and Mr. Walter Dugdale was presented with a silver key of handsome design. [British Architect 3 July 1903 Page 18]

Reference    Manchester Courier Tuesday 21 October 1902 page 3 - foundation stone
Reference    British Architect 27 December 1901 Page 498
Reference    British Architect 7 March 1902 Page 166 extensive note and illustration - perspective and ground floor plan.
Reference    Salford Chronicle 25 October 1902 Page 5 Column 5
Reference    British Architect 3 July 1903 Page 18

Archive        The plans for the church are in the Salford archives.