All Saints' Church, Urmston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church
53°28′22″N 2°21′07″W / 53.472696°N 2.351898°W / 53.472696; -2.351898
Location	Urmston
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Religious institute	Order of Friars Minor Conventual
Website	thegreyfriars.org/barton
History
Status	Active
Architecture
Architect(s)	E. W. Pugin
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	June 1868
Construction cost	£25,000
Administration
Diocese	Salford

All Saints' Church is a Roman Catholic church located near Urmston, in Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. It's found between Dumplington and Barton upon Irwell. This beautiful church was built a long time ago, between 1867 and 1868.

A famous architect named E. W. Pugin designed it. He used a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like old medieval churches. A wealthy person, Sir Humphrey de Trafford, paid for the church to be built.

All Saints' Church is on Redclyffe Road, close to the Manchester Ship Canal. It's considered a very important building, known as a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. One expert even called it Pugin's "masterpiece"! Since 1928, priests from the Conventual Franciscans have looked after the church.

History of All Saints' Church

Building the Church

Work on All Saints' Church began in 1867. The talented architect E. W. Pugin was in charge of the design. Sir Humphrey de Trafford paid for the church. He also hired Pugin to design another church nearby, St Ann's Church, Stretford.

The church officially opened in June 1868. A very important religious leader, Cardinal Henry Manning, led the opening ceremony. From All Saints' Church, priests started new missions to help Catholic communities in the area. These missions later grew into their own churches. Some examples include St Teresa of Avila Church in Irlam, English Martyrs Church in Urmston, and Holy Cross Church in Eccles.

Inside the church, you can see many interesting features. There are wooden pews where people sit. Beautiful stained glass windows let in colorful light. You might also spot gargoyles, which are carved stone figures, usually on the outside. The church has a special carved stone altar and a reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar. There's even a painting inside that shows the architect, E. W. Pugin, holding a plan of the church!

The Franciscan Priests

St Clare's Church in Blackley

In 1928, a group of Franciscan priests called the Order of Friars Minor Conventual came to Manchester. They started a mission in an area called Blackley. In 1929, they built a temporary church there, which they named St Clare's Church. Later, in 1951, they built a friary, which is a home for the friars.

On August 11, 1957, the first stone for a permanent St Clare's Church was laid. The Archbishop of Liverpool, George Beck, was there for this important event. The new St Clare's Church opened its doors in 1958.

In 1962, the Conventual Franciscans also came to Barton. They began working at All Saints' Church. Today, these priests continue to serve both All Saints' Church and St Clare's Church.

Exterior

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  Side view of the church

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  Rear view of the church

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Greater Manchester
• List of churches in Greater Manchester
• List of churches in the Diocese of Salford
• Listed buildings in Urmston