the Arts & Crafts Church – Middleton, Manchester
Following a water burst last week, on Friday the damaged surface was being removed (revelling some of the original stone sets). Although the Church remains closed (Covid) details of online services can be found on the web site www.manchestermethodists.org.uk
On Monday 18th January starts A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021. For resources follow the link, https://manchestermethodists.org.uk/a-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2021/
Alec Hamilton author of the recently available book ‘Arts and Crafts Churches’, published and available from Lund Humphries, gave an excellent lecture last evening for the SAHGB (Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain). With over 400 illustrations taken from churches across the country, showing a wealth of both variations and similarities of what can be said to be examples of the Arts and Crafts Church.
The ‘icing on the cake’ for me was the mention of, and images of Long Street Methodist Church, together with the plug for the website www.artsandcraftschurch.org
A recording of a previous talk by Alec on ‘Arts and Crafts Churches’ is available on the Victorian Societies website www.victoriansociety.org.uk or try the link Arts & Crafts Churches – Crowdcast
For those who remember Alec Hamilton’s lecture on Arts & Crafts Churches at the Arts & Crafts Church a few years back, this online event may be of particular interest…
The Society of Architectural Historians is hosting a lecture by Alec on 25 November 2020 at 6.00 p.m.
‘1900: Lions and Lambs – the Irresistible Rise and Bashful Demise of the Arts & Crafts Church’.
This is a free event but donations are welcome to help the charitable activities of the Society.
To book, click the following link to register. You will be sent a joining link on the day.
https://www.sahgb.org.uk/whatson/artscraftschurch
Alec Hamilton’s book, ‘Arts & Crafts Churches’, is available at Lund Humphries website:
Go to the Web site manchestermethodist.org.uk to see the Week by Week worship list.
Owners, Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust, have applied for funding to repair the feature chimney at the Arts & Crafts Church where longstanding cracks need to be addressed. We are hopeful for a positive result and will update you as soon as we know. Continue reading “Grant Bid to Repair Arts & Crafts Church Chimney”
Long Street Methodist Church and Schools are not opening this coming Heritage Open Days. However, the wonderful St Martin’s Church, Low Marple, Cheshire is, so why not visit there instead?
Opens Friday 18 September 2020, 14.00-18.00 and Saturday 19 September 2020, 10.00-15.00
St.Martin’s Church, Brabyns Brow, Marple Bridge, Marple, Stockport SK6 5DT
Next to Marple Railway Station.
Covid-secure arrangements observed.
Saint Martin’s Church was established in 1867 by Mrs Hudson of Brabyns Hall. It was designed by John Dando Sedding and subsequently extended by Henry Wilson. The church contains art works by William Morris, Dante Gabrielle Rosetti, Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Ford Maddox Brown and Christopher Whall.
Edgar Wood painted a picture of the art nouveau Lady Chapel which was designed by Henry Wilson. It shares some of the stylisms used by Wood.
Following the long lock down, Theo (martial arts leader) held his first session on Monday last. Although having to have his classes outside to conform to guide lines, it was good to see the premises in use once again. After this Monday’s outside session, he should be able to move back inside during the last week of the month.
While doing our weekly check of the building this morning, I opened the main church door to check the rain hopper and was surprised to be greeted by a delivery man. On balance he was more surprised than me to see the church door open. The delivery was a copy of a new book, by Julian Treuherz and Peter De Figueiredo, in which they “pull back the curtain to reveal 111 fascinating and eccentric destinations” in and around Manchester. “Edgar Wood in Middleton”, together with a photo of the garden and church feature at number 32 (alphabetic order). I suggest the church and school rooms fall in the fascinating category rather than the eccentric!
In line with the Methodist Church policy I did the weekly buildings check, as the Church is not being used during lock down. Shortly before 11.35, I noticed the sun shining on the font and took a photograph, while watching the shadow I was surprised to see how fast the shadow was moving across the stone and bronze sculpture and took a second image. Note the time between the two images and the distance the shadow travels.
As a welcome break from Coronavirus news, follow this TV series where today’s crafts people try to emulate the lives and work of the Victorian pioneers. Click here. Fascinating.
Latest update from the Methodist Church… Click here
The Middleton Archaeological Society held their monthly meeting in the lecture room at the Edgar Wood Rooms on Thursday. Leon gave an illustrated talk to a full house about the industrial History of Thornham (Middleton). This area is now more associated with green open spaces and recreation (Tangle Hill Park) rather than the previous deep mined coal pits, calico printing and a main centre for the manufacture of fustian.
The weekly check of the building was carried out this morning and everything was sound. The only change was the length of the grass and the number of weeds between the pavings.
The road outside the Church was awash on Sunday before the start of the service at 11am. Inside did not escape water ingress, staining can be seen on the wall in the photograph below.