- Gorton Monastery
Infobox religious building |building_name=Church and Friary of St Francis |
Gorton ,Greater Manchester ,England | map_type=Greater Manchester| latitude=53.468333 | longitude=-2.1875 |geo=SJ876968 |religious_affiliation=Catholic (Franciscan ) |district= |consecration_year= |status=Friary
leadership= |website= [http://www.gortonmonastery.co.uk/index.html www.gortonmonastery.co.uk] |architect= |architecture_type= |architecture_style=High Victorian Gothic architecture |facade_direction= |year_completed=1872
construction_cost= |capacity= |length= |width= |width_nave= |height_max= |dome_quantity= |dome_height_outer= |dome_height_inner= |dome_dia_outer= |dome_dia_inner= |minaret_quantity= |minaret_height= |spire_quantity= |spire_height= |materials=The Church and Friary of St Francis (gbmapping|SJ876968), known locally as Gorton Monastery, is a 19th century former
Franciscan friary inGorton , in eastManchester ,England . The Franciscans arrived in Gorton in December 1861 and built their friary between 1863 and 1867. The foundation stone for the church was laid in 1866 and completed in 1872; it closed for worship in 1989. It is believed to be one of the finest examples of High Victorian Gothic architecture in the world. [ [http://www.gortonmonastery.co.uk/history.html www.gortonmonastery.co.uk The History of Gorton Monastery] Retrieved2007-12-14 ]It was designed by Edward Welby Pugin (1834-1875).
In 1997, Gorton Monastery was placed on the World Monuments Fund Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World alongside
Pompeii , theTaj Mahal and theValley of the Kings . [ [http://www.metronews.co.uk/news/s/600212_new_threat_to_gorton_monastery_ www.metronews.co.uk] Retrieved2007-12-14 ]The church and associated friary buildings underwent a £6 million restoration programme supported by funds from the
Heritage Lottery Fund ,English Heritage andEuropean Regional Development Fund . The project was completed in June 2007 when the restored buildings opened as a venue for conferences, business meetings and community events. [ [http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/press-releases/200701/gorton-monasterys-%C2%A36-million.aspx North West Development Agency:Gorton Monastery's £6 million restoration complete] Retrieved2007-12-14 ]ee also
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Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
*List of churches in Greater Manchester External links
* [http://www.gortonmonastery.co.uk/index.html www.gortonmonastery.co.uk]
*IoE|388148
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/panoramas/gorton_monastery_360 www.bbc.co.uk: 360o Panorama of monastery interior]References
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