St Chrysostom's Church, Victoria Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Chrysostom's Church
St Chrysostom's seen from the northwest
Location	Victoria Park, Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Consecrated	13 October 1877
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Architect(s)	George Tunstall Redmayne
Administration
Deanery	Manchester North & East
Archdeaconry	Manchester
Diocese	Manchester
Province	York

Saint Chrysostom's Church is a special church in Victoria Park, England. It belongs to the Church of England and follows the Anglo-Catholic style of worship. This means it has a rich tradition and is known for being very welcoming to everyone.

The church is named after Saint John Chrysostom, an important saint. There are only three churches in the Church of England named after him. The other two are in Liverpool and Peckham, South London.

St Chrysostom's Church is part of the Diocese of Manchester and the Province of York.

History and Location

The area that St Chrysostom's Church serves is quite large. It stretches from Dickenson Road to Plymouth Grove and includes parts of Rusholme, Longsight, and all of Victoria Park. Important places like St Mary's Hospital, Victoria Baths, and a big part of the Curry Mile are all within this church's area.

Victoria Park was once part of another church's area until 1878. That's when St Chrysostom's own parish was created.

In 1836, a unique project began in Victoria Park. Architects like Richard Lane planned a fancy residential area. It had large houses with big gardens for wealthy business and professional families. Lane was famous for his public buildings, like the old Chorlton-on-Medlock Town Hall.

By 1850, about 50 houses were built by different architects. Victoria Park shows off work by famous architects like Alfred Waterhouse and George Tunstal Redmayne.

Many well-known people lived in Victoria Park during the 1800s. These included politicians like Richard Cobden and George Hadfield. The famous musician Sir Charles Hallé and artist Ford Madox Brown also lived there. Even the Pankhurst family, known for their work for women's rights, lived in the area.

Plans for a church were made in 1836. However, building stopped in the 1840s because the company behind Victoria Park went bankrupt.

The Church Building

A statue of St Chrysostom at the church

The church was built in an early English style between 1874 and 1876. It cost £13,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The architect was George Tunstal Redmayne. The Bishop of Manchester officially opened the church on October 13, 1877.

Sadly, a fire badly damaged the inside of the church on October 1, 1904. People thought the new electricity system might have caused it, but this was never proven. Rebuilding started under architect John Ely. The church was rebuilt almost exactly as Redmayne had designed it.

While the church was being rebuilt, the church members met in a temporary "iron church."

So, the church you see today, both inside and out, is mostly the rebuilt version from 1906. It has changed very little since then. The building is considered a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important.

Even though the area around the church has changed a lot, the church itself remains a significant landmark. It stands out in Victoria Park and is an important part of the community.

Stained Glass Windows

Most of the beautiful windows in the church were made by Burlison and Grylls. These artists were inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite art style. The windows in the main part of the church (the nave) and the area near the altar (the chancel) all look similar. This gives the church a special feel.

Their work often features pale, detailed designs, dark robes, and rich, bright colors. Many windows show saints from the British Isles or great teachers of the church. These include St Augustine, St Ambrose, St Hilda, and St Patrick. There are also windows honoring John Keble and Edward Pusey, who were important figures in the Anglo-Catholic movement.

The windows have many small details, like family symbols and initials. War Memorial windows even have pictures copied from old photographs. The saint windows often show symbols related to that saint and sometimes have simple messages. The window of St John Chrysostom in the chancel is very special. It shows the church's patron saint holding a small model of the church itself.

Some windows in the Anson Chapel were made by a local Manchester artist, Walter Pearce. These windows are from a later time and use colors in a unique way. One window remembers several major battles from the First World War. There is also a round stained glass window with angels in a beautiful art deco style.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross are a set of images or sculptures that show Jesus's journey to his crucifixion. These were added to the church later, around 1938. They were created by Ian Howgate. He worked with a group called the Faith Craft studio, which was part of the Anglo-Catholic Society of the Faith. You can find a similar set in a church in London.

War Memorial

The War Memorial is made of wooden panels in the Anson Chapel. It was built by George Macfarlane and Sons of Manchester. The design was by P A Robson, an architect from Manchester and London. The special plaques were made by Miss E Attwood. A large granite stone was placed outside the main west door of the church. This was to make sure everyone knew where the memorial was.

The memorial was finished in 1923. It was officially opened and blessed on Sunday, May 13. The Dean of Manchester gave a speech, and a military officer unveiled the memorial.

Two years later, two more windows were added to the Anson Chapel. These windows, on the south and west walls, were a gift from J. S. Williamson. They were made by Walter J. Pearce, the Manchester stained glass artist. Their design matches the War Memorial. These windows were blessed on November 15, 1925.

After the Second World War, it was decided to add the names of those who died in that war. Their names were placed on two new panels next to the original five panels of the memorial.

The Clergy

The first priest at St Chrysostom's was Father William Marsden. He had worked with Archdeacon Anson, who was an important priest in Manchester. Archdeacon Anson's influence helped shape the traditions that are still strong at St Chrysostom's today.

Father Marsden was the longest-serving priest at the church. He started in 1877 and served until he passed away in 1899. Many priests have served the church since then. The current Parish Priest is Father Lee David Wood.

The Organ

The church organ was built in 1906. The original organ was destroyed in the 1904 fire. It is located on the north side of the choir area. The front of the organ shows off its largest pipes. The part where the organist plays is right below these pipes, behind the choir seats.

The organ was built by William Hill & Son. It is used to provide music for church services. It is also used for concerts and recitals.

In 2006, the organ received a special award called a Historic Organ Certificate Grade II*. This award recognizes its historical importance and quality.

Since 1906, only a few small changes have been made to the organ. It is still very much like it was when it was first built. It is known for its excellent sound and quality.

However, the choir organ part was damaged by rainwater in 1998. It has not been playable since then. Also, because the organ is now over 100 years old, it needs a major repair to keep it working well.

See also

• Listed buildings in Manchester-M14