Manchester's 'Hidden Gem' church saved with NCT funding

Image CC © Tim Green

St Mary's Catholic church in central Manchester is one of 21 churches and chapels and meeting houses saved, thanks to £351,500 of funding awarded by the National Churches Trust.

A £30,000 National Churches Trust Grant and a £6,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant will fund urgent roof and dome repairs to the Grade II Listed church - which includes modern Stations of the Cross designed with the advice of the art historian Sister Wendy Beckett.

Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of the National Churches Trust, said: "I'm delighted that St Mary, Mulberry Street, a beautiful Victorian church, is receiving funding for urgent repairs to rainwater goods, and roof and dome repairs. This will safeguard unique local heritage and keep the building open and in use for the benefit of local people. The church includes some amazing modern Stations of the Cross, and is well worth a visit."

"Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or as a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today, and tomorrow."

St Mary's is a renowned Grade II church in the heart of Manchester's historic Civic Quarter, near the Town Hall and within the Albert Square Conservation area. There has been a church on site since late 1794, but its partial collapse in 1833 led Father M. Formby to commission a new church by Weightman & Hadfield of Sheffield. The architect chosen to oversee the work was Matthew Ellison Hadfield, who later went on to build Salford Cathedral and the new St Chad's Church in Cheetham Hill.

St Mary's Church was entirely demolished and the new St Mary's was formally opened in October 1848. The church's design is a blend of Norman, Gothic and Byzantine detail.

During this period the church first became known as the 'Hidden Gem', an appellation attributed to Bishop Vaughan, who obtained a medieval font for the church and is said to have added the present main carved doorway, both originating in Germany.

From 1993 - 1994 the church was thoroughly restored. With advice from the art historian Sister Wendy Beckett, Canon Clinch commissioned new Stations of the Cross from celebrated religious artist, Norman Adams RA. Installed in 1995, these are widely believed to be one of the great ecclesiastical commissions of the century, and were blessed at a ceremony attended by HRH the Duchess of Kent.

The grant from the National Churches Trust will facilitate repairs to the rainwater goods, roof and dome repairs. The project will address issues focusing on preventing water ingress and associated conditions/issues which will potentially damage the very fabric of the church. The work is strongly driven by necessity, particularly as climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events including intense rainfall.

A spokesperson for the parish said: " We are delighted by the news that we have been awarded this grant from the National Churches Trust. This funding will allow us to make vital repairs to our listed Church: safeguarding it, and the precious Norman Adam artworks within, for future generations. "

"It will also allow us to continue to open our doors and welcome the many parishioners, residents and visitors that seek out solace in our historic 'Hidden Gem' in the heart of Manchester."

Other churches being helped in this batch of grants include:

A £25,000 National Churches Trust Grant goes to Church of Ireland's St Mark's church in Dundela, Belfast which has strong links with the celebrated writer CS Lewis, who was baptised there. The funding pays for a kitchen and servery to improve its appeal to visitors.

A £25,000 National Churches Trust Grant supports the Church of England's St Agatha's church in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. The Grade I Listed arts and crafts style church, one of the finest parish churches in the city, serves a very deprived area and the funding will pay for the installation of a servery and a disabled toilet, increasing the range of support it can offer local people.

A £15,000 National Churches Trust Grant and a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant will fund urgent roof and tower repairs to Grade I Listed Church of England St Leonard's church in Old Warden, Bedfordshire The ancient church, which dates from the 12th century, includes a set of 22 finely carved oak panels depicting the personal emblems of Henry VIIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.
Four of the churches being helped are on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register

With over 900 churches on the Heritage at Risk Register, and the Church of England facing a £1 billion repair bill for its buildings over the next five years, many parishes face severe challenges in keeping their buildings open and in good repair.

To help, in 2022, the National Churches Trust made over 255 grant awards to churches throughout the United Kingdom, with funding totalling more than £1.95m. In 2023, grants continue to be available to churches of any Christian denomination that are open for regular worship to fund urgent repairs, maintenance, installing loos or kitchens and feasibility studies to develop projects.

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation said: "As well as being places of worship and buildings of beauty, churches sit at the heart of the community. In many ways they stand between the past and present. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to support the preservation of these significant, much-loved historic buildings across the UK."

Despite a decline in the number of Christians in the UK, the public overwhelmingly support the nation's 39,000 churches, chapels and meeting houses, according to the findings of a new opinion poll commissioned by the National Churches Trust.

Key findings of the Savanta opinion poll, which surveyed 2061 UK adults online in December 2022 include:

- Three quarters (75%) of UK adults agree that churches, chapels and meeting houses are important for society as they provide a space for activities and support for local people, such as foodbanks and warm spaces.

- A large majority of UK adults (73%) also agree that the UK's churches, chapels and meeting houses are an important part of the UK's heritage and history.

The National Churches Trust is the leading national independent charity concerned with the protection and welfare of churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the United Kingdom. We aim to:

a) Provide grants for the repair, maintenance and modernisation of church buildings

b) Act as a catalyst to improve and bring more resources to the management of church buildings

c) Promote the value of church buildings to the community at large

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts. Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.

Wolfson Fabric Repairs Grants are made on behalf of the Wolfson Foundation by the National Churches Trust. The aim of the programme is to support the conservation and restoration of places of worship with outstanding historic and architectural significance. Churches can apply for the grants of up to £10,000 to support repairs to the fabric of their buildings such as roof repairs, masonry repairs, rainwaters disposal and drainage and floorwork.

LINKS

National Churches Trust : www.nationalchurchestrust.org

The Wolfson Foundation: www.wolfson.org.uk

For more information on grantas visit: www.nationalchurchestrust.org/our-grants/wolfson-grants

Full listing of churches assisted with this latest funding: www.nationalchurchestrust.org/news/21-more-churches-and-chapels-saved-future