Church of St George, Chester Road, Hulme facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St George |
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Church of St George, Chester Road, Hulme
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| Location | |
| Location | Chester Road, Hulme, Manchester |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Francis Goodwin |
| Groundbreaking | 1826 |
| Completed | 1828 |
| Construction cost | £15,000 |
The Church of St George is a historic building in Hulme, Manchester. It was built between 1826 and 1828 by an architect named Francis Goodwin. This church is an example of early Gothic Revival style, which means it was designed to look like older Gothic churches. In 1884, the church was repaired and updated by J. S. Crowther. Because of its special history and design, it was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building on October 3, 1974. This means it's a very important building that needs to be protected.
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A Special Church Building
The Church of St George was a "Commissioners' church." These churches were built after the Battle of Waterloo to celebrate the victory. The government provided money for their construction. St George's Church received £15,000 for its building.
Who Designed This Church?
Francis Goodwin was a great choice for the architect. He had already designed many churches in the Midlands and North West England. He also designed the first Manchester Town Hall. A famous expert named Sir Nikolaus Pevsner thought Goodwin was inspired by another church, St Michael, in Cornhill, London. Pevsner said the church "makes a lively and memorable picture."
What Does It Look Like?
The church has a long main hall called a nave, with six sections. It has tall windows with three lights, designed in a style called "Perpendicular." At the west end, there is a tall tower. At the east end, there are two high, pointed decorations called pinnacles. There are also entrances, or porches, at the northwest and southwest corners.
Inside the Church
When the church was listed as a historic building in 1974, inspectors from English Heritage described its inside. They reported that it had galleries, which are like balconies, and arches in the "Perpendicular" style. There was also a special wall monument dedicated to George Berkeley Molyneux, who passed away in 1841. This monument, made by Edward Physick, showed a soldier mourning next to an urn.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, fewer people lived in the inner city area around the church. Also, new roads were built nearby, making the church feel more isolated. Because of these changes, St George's Church closed its doors in 1984.
Finding a New Purpose
For about 20 years, people tried to find a new use for the building that would keep its beautiful interior. There were ideas to turn it into a museum, perhaps for Rolls-Royce cars or for sports history. However, these plans did not work out. Finally, between 2000 and 2002, the church was changed into apartments. Because of this, the inside of the church can no longer be seen as one whole space. In 2015, the apartment located in the church tower was listed for sale for £1 million.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M15
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- List of works by Francis Goodwin
- List of works by J. S. Crowther
- List of churches dedicated to St. George
