Proposed Church House: St Peter’s Square, Manchester

This design was made with special reference to occupying the site of St Peter’s Church, situated in St Peter’s Square, now proposed to be removed. A portion of the present site has been added to the surrounding streets for the benefit of traffic at this point which is very considerable. It is an “island” site and even if the whole of it were allowed to be left open, some at least would have to be taken for road widening. The main entrance is at the St Peter’s square end and is in the form of an angular porch. The upper floor is occupied by a large hall to hold 1,200 people, available for public meetings, lectures or sacred concerts, with suitable platform and organ. A smaller hall is provided on the lower floor to hold 250. Accommodation has been provided for the Bishop of the diocese, for the Church Conference, Bishop’s Commission, Scholae Episcopi as well as for diocesan societies and foreign missions, Church Defense and other institutions, library and reading room etc. The building is proposed to be executed in stone and the style of architecture adopted is Perpendicular Gothic, freely treated. The architects are Messrs Smith and Matley of Ridgefield, Manchester. [Builder 13 January 1906 Page 44]

MANCHESTER CHURCH HOUSE - The design has been prepared following suggestions that the site of St. Peter's Church should be used for building a Church House. The architects are Messrs Smith and Matley, Ridgefield, Manchester. The building, includes accommodation for the requirements of the Bishop of the diocese, for the Church Conference, the Bishop's Commission, the Scholæ Episcopi, as well as for the diocesan societies, home and foreign missions. Church Defence and other institutions, library and reading-rooms, committee-rooms, class-rooms, and so forth. The main entrance is at the Peter Street end, and is in the form of an angular-porch. The upper floor is occupied by a large hall to hold 1,200 people, available for public meetings, lectures. or sacred concerts, with suitable platform and organ. A smaller hall is provided on the lower floor to hold 250. The plans have been drawn with a view to the necessary increase in the width of the road around the site and the rounding of the angles for the benefit of passing traffic. Increased space has been given for the pavement, particularly at the Peter-street end. The estimated cost of the building in stone is about £28,000, in brick with stone dressings and tracery about £20,000. [Manchester Guardian 23 December 1905 page 5]

Reference    Builder 13 January 1906 Page 44 with two plans and perspective
Reference    British Architect 29 December 1905 Page
Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 December 1905 page 5 with illustration