Edgar Wood Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edgar Wood Centre |
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Side view of the church
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| OS grid reference | SJ 85729 95702 |
| Location | Victoria Park, Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Universal Church of the Kingdom of God |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 18 December 1963 |
| Architect(s) | Edgar Wood |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 1903 |
The Edgar Wood Centre is a special building in Victoria Park, Manchester, England. It used to be a church for the Church of Christ, Scientist. The famous architect Edgar Wood designed it in 1903.
A well-known expert named Nikolaus Pevsner once said it was "the only religious building in Lancashire that would be indispensable in a survey of twentieth century church design in all England." This means it's a very important building for its design. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected because of its historical importance.
Contents
History of the Edgar Wood Centre
How the Building Was Designed
The architect Edgar Wood created this building for the first Christian Scientists' church in Britain. Building started in 1903–1904. There wasn't much space or money, so the plans had to be changed a bit. More work was done between 1905 and 1907.
Pevsner, the expert, called the church "one of the most original buildings of that time in England." It was decorated with bronze letters showing parts of the Bible. It also had an Arabic-style screen for the organ and special chairs designed by Edgar Wood himself.
Architectural Style and Features
Edgar Wood designed the building in an Expressionist style. It also has details from the Art Nouveau style. The building is made of red brick, with some parts covered in stucco (a type of plaster). It has a slate roof.
The building has a unique Y-shape. It has a main part and two wings that spread out. There's also a round tower with a cone-shaped roof in one corner. At one end, there's a curved doorway with stone sides. Above it is a window shaped like a cross. At the other end, there's a porch with a rounded arch. The roof has tall dormer windows that stick out.
The Gateway and Its Importance
The gateway to the centre is also very special. It was designed by Wood in the Art Nouveau style. It's made of red brick and sandstone, with a slate roof. The gateway has a curved arch with a steep pointed roof. This roof contains a small, half-round window that sticks out. On the sides, there are slanting supports called buttresses. There is a special blue plaque on the gateway that honors Edgar Wood.
Changes Over Time
The church closed in 1971. After that, it was damaged by vandals. It reopened in 1975 as the Edgar Wood Centre. This centre then closed in 2003. After that, the building was used by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.
Today (in 2024), the centre is used as a place for weddings and other events. It is now known as Daisy Bank Manor. The building was once on a list of "At Risk" buildings in 2007. But it is no longer considered to be at risk. The church has been a Grade I listed building since December 18, 1963. Most of its original furniture and stained glass windows have been taken out.
Images for kids
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Edgar Wood Centre: the gateway
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M14
