Octagon Congregational Church, Stockport Road, Ardwick, Manchester

..... The site selected, in addition to being convenient for the old buildings, which could be, and now are, utilised for various branches of church work, is one of the best in the district, and is in every way well adapted to the use to which it has been put. The building, of which a view appears in this number, being of unusual design, has attracted much attention, and is very generally admired, but what is of even greater importance, it gives the utmost satisfaction to those for whose use it is intended. A well-informed writer on architectural topics, in speaking of the Octagon Church, recently said:

“Crossing over to the Stockport Road, we come, (nearly opposite Devonshire Street) to a brick and terra cotta chapel, fresh and vigorous in its design, and where, with comparatively slight exception, terra cotta has been duly kept in its place. The whole work suggests economy but there is nothing mean about it. It possesses the dignity of simplicity, directness of purpose and appropriateness.”

The octagonal form is not at once self-evident, for although the original ground plan was that of an octagon, with four long and four short sides, it was afterwards modified so as to admit an apse for the choir and to make room for the pulpit. The building was erected by Mr Henry Matthews JP, from the designs of Mr F W Simon of the firm of Messrs Simon and Tweedie, architects, Edinburgh, the total cost of the new building, including alterations to the old school-chapel being £5,370.

Dedicated Sunday 4 June 1893 and opened for public worship 5 June 1893. Now demolished, the church stood near the junction with Devonshire Street Ardwick.

Reference           Manchester Faces & Places Vol VII No 9 June 1896 page 130-34 with photograph