Diocesan Church House; 90 Deansgate, Manchester.

At the Diocesan Conference of 1905 a proposal to build a Church House was adopted. However, the difficulty of finding a suitable site long delayed the scheme. Eventually the site of the old rectory in Deansgate, occupied at the time by Messrs Armstrong, opticians was obtained. The foundation stone was laid on 11 October 1909 and the building opened on 18 October 1911. 

NEW CHURCH HOUSE, OPENING BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK - The opening to-day by the Archbishop of York of the Manchester Diocesan Church House in Deansgate will be a local event of importance. … It had been long felt that there was not sufficient available room for Church meetings at the old diocesan quarters, and sometimes they had to be held elsewhere in surroundings not altogether suitable. A sub-committee was appointed by the bishop, to select a suitable site. At length the committee decided upon a site on Deansgate, near the opening of St Ann-street. The land covers some 732 square yards and comprises two distinct sites, one of which belonged to the Dean and Canons of Manchester, and the other was that of the old Dean's residence. In order to perpetuate the name of the latter the Old Rectory Club formed part of the new institution. At the time when it was decided to build, it was discovered that the scheme would cost about £50,000. As there was a demand for accommodation for certain societies of the diocese it was decided to form a limited liability company, with Sir William Houldsworth as charman and Canon Drury as secretary, to erect an adequate building. The board offered 40,000 one-pound shares to the public, of which at present 36,000 have been taken up. The cost, however will, it seems, be greater than was namely about £48,000. An important part of the building is the Houldsworth Hall, named after Sir William H. Houldsworth, which will hold 1,040 people. It is expected this will be used largely for musical purposes, chiefly on account of its acoustic properties and the magnificent organ given by Sir William Houldsworth. The Social Club, which will be lodged on the upper floors of the building, is likely to start with 400 members. An interesting part of the whole institution is comprised in the chapel and library. Altogether the Church House by its situation and arrangements will form most important diocesan possession. [Manchester Guardian 18 October 1911 page 10]

Foundation      stone laid on 9 October 1909 by Archbishop of York
Opened          18 October 1911 by Archbishop of York

Reference        Manchester Guardian 3 August 1908 page 7 – acquisition of site
Reference        Manchester Courier 13 August 1908 page 1; 14 August 1908 page 1 - prospectus
Reference        Manchester Courier 2 February 1909 page 9 with illustration
Reference        Manchester Guardian 11 October 1909 page 6 and 14 – foundation stone, proceedings, etc
Reference        Manchester City News 9 October 1909 – foundation stone
Reference        Building News 10 September 1909 Page 401
Reference        Manchester Guardian 19 October 1911 page 8 with photo – opening
Reference        RIBA Journal 1914 -John Brooke obituary