Church of St Nicholas, Burnage

St Nicholas, Burnage

The Church of St Nicholas, Kingsway, Burnage, Manchester is an Modernist church of 1930–2 by N. F. Cachemaille-Day, Lander and Welch.^[1] It was enlarged in 1964 with a bay on the west side, also by Cachemaille-Day. Pevsner describes the church as "a milestone in the history of church architecture in England".^[1] The church was designated a Grade II* listed building on 10 October 1980.^[2]

St Nicholas is one of a relatively small group of Modernist churches in England, and one of the earliest. It is "of brick, high, sheer and sculptural, with a German-inspired passion for brick grooves and ribbing, both vertical and horizontal."^[1] The building cost £11,600.^[3] The interior was plainly furnished, "the walls bare, the windows clear, but the ceiling is coffered in blue, red and gold".^[1] In 2001-3, the interior was re-ordered, to provide additional meeting space, and offices, including the insertion of a "striking glass circular meeting room".^[4] "The church's spatial complexity is not spoiled, but rather added to", by "hanging the meeting room above head height".^[1]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Hartwell et al. 2004, p. 410
2. ^ http://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-388253-church-of-st-nicholas-manchester
3. ^ http://www.st-nicholas-church.org.uk/AboutOurChurch.htm
4. ^ http://www.st-nicholas-church.org.uk/AboutOurChurch.htm

References

• Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2004), Lancashire: Manchester and the South East, The Buildings of England, New Haven, CT; London: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-10583-5 

Coordinates: 53°25′11″N 2°12′52″W / 53.4198°N 2.2145°W / 53.4198; -2.2145