Brookfield Unitarian Church facts for kids
Brookfield Unitarian Church is a historic church located in Gorton, Manchester, England. It's a great example of Victorian Gothic architecture, which was a popular style in the Victorian era that looked back to medieval church designs. This church is part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, which is the main group for Unitarians in Britain.
Contents
History of the Church
Building the Church
Brookfield Unitarian Church was built between 1869 and 1871. It was created to replace an older building called Gorton Chapel, which stood on the very same spot. A very important person named Richard Peacock (1820–1889) paid for the church to be built. He was a famous engineer and also a Member of Parliament (a politician who represented Manchester in the government).
The church was designed by a well-known Manchester architect named Thomas Worthington. It cost Richard Peacock a lot of money – about £12,000, which was a huge sum back then! Because of its special history and design, the church was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building on 3 October 1974. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected. Other buildings nearby, like the churchyard lodges and the Sunday School, are also listed.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church has a tall steeple (a pointed tower) on its north-west side. Inside this steeple are eight bells, and each one is named after a member of the Peacock family!
A famous expert on buildings, Nikolaus Pevsner, described the church as "very large and strikingly-prosperous looking." He also said it has a "bold, simple, and perfect" interior. This means the inside of the church is grand but also clear and well-designed. Like many old buildings, the church and its graveyard have needed a lot of care and protection recently.
Important People Buried Here
Richard Peacock, who helped build the church, is buried in its cemetery. He was a partner in a company that made train engines called Beyer, Peacock & Company. His family members are also buried there, in a special building called the Peacock Mausoleum, which was also designed by Thomas Worthington.
The Old Gorton Chapel
The current church was built right on top of where the Gorton Chapel used to be. That older chapel was first set up in 1703. Inside the new church, there's a stone memorial that remembers the ministers (leaders) who served at the old chapel. The graveyard from the old chapel is still there today. A notable person connected to the old chapel was Samuel Birch.
See also
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M18
- Dissenting Gothic
