Church of St Michael and All Angels, Northenden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's, Northenden |
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| Church of St Michael and All Angels | |
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 St Michael's, Northenden
Location in Greater Manchester
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| 53°24′36″N 2°16′56″W / 53.4099°N 2.2821°W | |
| Location | Northenden, Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Dedication | St Michael and All Angels |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | Nugent Francis Cachemaille-Day |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Withington |
| Archdeaconry | Manchester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Manchester |
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a special church in Northenden, Manchester, England. It was built between 1935 and 1937. A famous architect named Nugent Francis Cachemaille-Day designed it. People like the historian Nikolaus Pevsner have called it "sensational" for its time. This church is also a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
Contents
Why Was This Church Built?
In 1926, the city of Manchester bought a large area called the Wythenshawe Estate. They started building a new "garden suburb" there in 1930. A garden suburb is a planned community with lots of green spaces. This new area was huge, covering about 5,000 acres. It was planned to have 25,000 houses and 100,000 people living there.
A Growing Community Needs a Church
Wythenshawe was part of the parish of Church of St Wilfrid, Northenden. But the old church was too small for all the new people moving in. So, in 1934, a small mission church opened to help. Then, in 1935, the church leaders decided to build a brand new, bigger church. They planned to spend £10,000 on it.
Designing a Unique Church
Nugent Francis Cachemaille-Day was chosen to design both the new church and the house for the vicar next door. He was a very creative architect. The first stone for the church was laid on May 8, 1937. The Bishop of Manchester was there for this important event. A company called J. Clayton and Sons built the church.
What Does It Look Like?
The church has a very unusual shape. It looks like a star, made from two squares that fit together. It is built with red bricks and some stone decorations. The roof is flat, and there is a cross right in the middle of it.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is also very interesting. It has a "raw" but clever design. There are tall columns that hold up the flat roof, which has a ribbed pattern. Some people used to think the architect wanted the altar (the table where services are held) to be in the very center. But the original plans show this was not the case.
Images for kids
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The Church of St Michael and All Angels in Northenden.
