Edgar Wood Centre

.

History

The building was designed by the architect Edgar Wood for the Christian Scientists' first church in Britain. Construction began in 1903–4. A shortage of space and money led to modifications to the design, and further work took place in 1905–7.cite book | title= Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East | series= The buildings of England | author= Hartwell, Clare|coauthors=Matthew Hyde and Nikolaus Pevsner | year= 2004 | publisher= Yale University Press | location= New Haven, Conn. ; London | isbn= 0-300-10583-5]

Pevsner described the church as "one of the most original buildings of that time in England, or indeed anywhere." [cite book | title= South Lancashire | series= The buildings of England | author= Pevsner, Nikolaus | year= 1969 | publisher= Penguin | location= Harmondsworth | isbn= 0-140-71036-1] The church was decorated by bronze lettering of parts of the Bible and works by Mary Baker Eddy, an Arabic organ screen, and chairs designed by Wood.

The church closed in 1971 and was heavily vandalised before reopening as the Edgar Wood Centre in 1975. [cite news | | title= 'Wood' you credit it! | author= Cockburn, Mary-Ann | work= Manchester Forum Summer 2003 | publisher= Manchester Civic Society] In turn, this closed in 2003, and the building is currently disused; it has been placed on the "English Heritage Register of Buildings at Risk 2007". [cite web | url= http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConBar.6483 | title= Edgar Wood Centre, Daisy Bank Road | date= 2007 | accessdate= 2008-01-14 | work= Buildings at Risk Register 2007 | publisher= English Heritage] The building was listed grade I in 1994. [cite web | url= http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1908&pageNumber=4 | title= Listed buildings in Manchester by street (D) | accessdate= 2008-01-14 | publisher= Manchester City Council] Most of the furnishings and stained glass have been removed.

ee also

Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester

References

External links

*IoE|388057