Brookfield Unitarian Church facts for kids
Brookfield Unitarian Church is a beautiful old church located in Gorton, Manchester, England. It was built in the Victorian Gothic style, which means it looks like the grand churches from the Victorian era. This church is part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, which is a group that brings together Unitarian churches across Britain.
Building the Church
Brookfield Unitarian Church was constructed between 1869 and 1871. It was built to replace an older church called Gorton Chapel, which stood in the same spot. A very important person named Richard Peacock (1820–1889) asked for the church to be built. He was an engineer and also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester, meaning he helped make laws for the country.
The church was designed by a famous architect from Manchester, Thomas Worthington. Mr. Peacock paid a lot of money for the church, about £12,000, which was a huge amount back then!
Special Features of the Church
The church is considered a very important building. On October 3, 1974, it was given a special status as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a building of more than special interest and needs to be protected. Other buildings nearby, like the churchyard lodges and the Sunday School, are also listed.
The church has a tall steeple, which is a pointed tower. Inside the steeple are eight bells. Each bell is named after a member of the Peacock family, showing how important they were to the church.
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" inside. Sadly, the church and its graveyard have faced some damage from vandalism in recent years.
Richard Peacock, who helped build the church, was a partner in a company that made train engines called Beyer, Peacock & Company. He and his family are buried in the church's cemetery. Their special burial place, called the Peacock Mausoleum, was also designed by Thomas Worthington.
The Old Gorton Chapel
Before Brookfield Unitarian Church, there was the Gorton Chapel, which started in 1703. The new church was built right on top of where the old chapel stood. Inside the church, there is a stone memorial that remembers the ministers who served at the old chapel.
One well-known person who was part of the old chapel was Samuel Birch. Even though the old chapel is gone, its graveyard is still there.
More to Explore
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M18
- Dissenting Gothic, a style of architecture
