St Chrysostom's Church

Saint Chrysostom's is a church in Manchester, England. The Patron of the church is St John Chrysostom.

St Chrysostom's is the Anglican (Church of England) parish church of Victoria Park, not far from the city centre, close to Manchester University.

Introduction

St Chrysostom's is the Church of England parish church of Victoria park in Manchester, England.

The worship at St Chrysostom's is in the Anglo Catholic tradition of the Anglican Church.

Ever since it opened over 130 years ago, St Chrysostom's has had regular weekday worship. The nature of the worship, and times have varied according to the changing community and the needs of the day.

Today the weekday worship centres around the celebration of Mass each day from Monday to Thursday. This celebration lasts about 20-25 minutes and is a quiet act of worship and the end of the working day. During the Mass prayers for the parish and for the world are offered. On feast days there may be a brief homily.

The Parish

The geographical area, the parish, which St Chrysostom’s Church serves, the parish, extends from Dickenson Road in the south, to Plymouth Grove in the north, from Wilmslow Road to Stockport Road, and includes large areas of Rusholme, Longsight and all Victoria Park.

St Mary's Hospital, Victoria Baths, the Chinese Consulate, Longsight Market, and a large part of the Curry Mile are all in the parish.

The Church Building

The building is in the early English style, and was built to the design of G. T Redmayne, who also designed the College of Art in Cavendish Street, Manchester, and Dalton Hall, next door to St Chrysostoms. After the disastrous fire of 1904 the rebuilding, under the guidance of the architect John Ely, was done to Redmayne's original plans, with only some small variations.

Consequently, what is seen today, both outside and inside is the rebuilt church of 1906 with very little alteration.

Although the area which the church serves has changed considerably since the foundation of St Chrysostom's the church itself has changed very little. It remains significant and prominent in the landscape and life of the area, and it commands a strong and notable position in the Victoria Park Conservation Area.

Stained Glass

Most of the windows are the work of the stained glass artists Burlison and Grylls, and have clearly been influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite style. Many of the windows depict saints of the British Isles, or great teachers of the Church. John Keble, and Edward Pusey, heroes of the Anglo Catholic movement are honoured with their own windows. The pale elaborate canopies, detailed paintwork, dark robes and magnificent rich colours are characteristic of their work.

The windows have some detail in them - including heraldic devices, mongrams, and even reproduction of photographs. The saints' windows frequently have appropriate symbols, and the saints often have near them simple text bearing scrolls. The window of St John Chrysostom in the Chancel is charming - the patron saint is depicted holding a model of the Church. Some of the windows in the Anson Chapel are the work of the local Manchester Artist Walter Pearce. This windows represent a later period than the Burlison and Grylls windows and have a distinctive use of colour. One window commemorates several of the major campaigns of the First World War. There is also a beautiful round stained glass window depicting Angels in a rich art deco style.

War Memorial

The War Memorial consists of wooden panelling in the Anson Chapel of St Chrysostom's, and was made by George Macfarlane and Sons of Manchester, to the design of P A Robson, architect of Manchester. and the plaques were the work of Miss E Attwood. A granite slab was placed outside the main West door of the church ‘in order that adequate indication of the Memorial might be made.’

The Memorial was completed in 1923 and was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday May 13th. At 11am the Dean of Manchester preached, and the memorial was unveiled by Lieut-Colonel G. B. Hurst K.C., M.P. At 3.15pm a ‘Special Masonic Service’ was held, conducted by the Archdeacon of Manchester and Rev. A. F. Aldis.

Two years later two additional windows, on the south and west walls were placed in the Anson chapel. They were the gift of J. S. Williamson, and are the work of the Manchester stained glass window designer Walter J. Pearce. Their design complements the War Memorial. They were dedicated on November 15th 1925 by Revd G. H. Woolley, V. C., M.C. and unveiled by Col. Sir Thomas Blatherwick, D.S.O. of the 6th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment.

Following the Second World War it was decided to incorporate the names of those who died in that war in two panels on either side of the existing five panels of the war memorial.

The Organ

The Organ was built in 1906, the original organ having been lost in the fire of 1904. It occupies a chamber on the North side of the choir, and sports a front comprising the larger pipes of the Great Open Diapason stops. The console is immediately below this front, behind the choir-stalls.

The Organ is the work of William Hill & Son and, as might be expected of this builder, is built to the highest standards. It is used as the main accompaniment to worship, as well as for recitals and other concert use.

In 2006 the instrument was awarded a Historic Organ Certificate Grade II* by the British Institute of Organ Studies.

Since 1906, three alterations have been made:• The hitch-down swell pedal was replaced by a balanced pedal• A Tremulant was added to the Swell Organ• A Watkins and Watson 'Discus' blower and humidifier were installed (c. 1958)

It is an instrument of exceptional quality, substantially unaltered from the 1906 specification in both action and tone.

On the down side, the Choir organ suffered rain-water damage in 1998 (the roof has, of course, been repaired) and has not been playable since. Furthermore, the instrument now being 100 years old, is showing signs of general wear to the extent that a major conservative restoration is required.

References

[http://www.stchrysostoms.co.uk Official site]