July - The Diocese of Manchester

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zyx-CRUX.JUL.11 30/6/11 10:20 am Page 6 6 July 2011 90 Deansgate : A chequered history HOME TO BOXING, SNOOKER, THE HALLÉ ORCHESTRA, ARMY RECRUITMENT - AND THE DIOCESE CHURCH House at 90 Deansgate celebrates its centenary in October. Canon Alan Cooper and Paul Nott have delved through the archives to find that over the past century the building hosted boxing championships, was an Army Recruitment Centre and a classical music venue, as well as providing offices for the Bishop of Manchester and the diocese. The idea of constructing a special office building for the Bishop of Manchester and the local diocese came about through the initiative of Bishop Knox and a dedicated committee of local businessmen including Sir William Houldsworth (a Conservative MP and founder of Houldsworth Mill), who formed The Manchester Diocesan Church House Co Ltd. Meetings were held under the chairmanship of Col Clapham and finance for the project was raised by issuing shares in the company and a loan from William Deacons Bank. Church House was an advanced building when it opened in 1911. It offered full central heating, a central vacuum cleaning system, hot water and electric lights for all tenants. The architect noted that there was no gas to fall back on if the electric lights failed during the opening ceremony! As well as providing offices for the Bishop and the diocese, the building was designed from the start for commercial use to generate an income for the diocese. Sir William Houldsworth consented to the large hall on the ground floor to be named Houldsworth Hall. During the First World War it was used as an Army Recruitment Centre. The World Snooker Championships were held there in the 1950s and it hosted the semi-finals of the Mineworkers’ National Amateur Boxing Championships in 1934. The Hall was a well-known, mid-size venue in the city and used for music during the 1960s when John Peel played at a gig in 1969 with Greasy Bear. The Hallé Orchestra played in the Hall regularly THERE have been changes over the years. Renovation work in progress in 2002 provided a new training suite (above) and a contemplative chapel, whose distinctive window is shown (right).
zyx-CRUX.JUL.11 30/6/11 10:20 am Page 7 CRUX – Keeping you in touch and Chetham’s School used it as a recording venue. Having taken two years to build, the opening ceremony was set for October 18, 1911. The Directors invited some 800 guests. Celebrations began with a service in St Ann’s Church at noon, followed by luncheon with the Archbishop of York in the Town Hall. An opening ceremony was followed by a reception at the Rectory Club in the building. This included the presentation of the Bishop’s portrait, and finally ended with another reception in the Houldsworth Hall given by Bishop and Mrs Knox. It is interesting to note that the tea cost the company 8d (4p) per head and the entire day some £71.7s.6d. (£71.38). A detective was present “to prevent access by undesirables”. For the service at St Ann’s, the organist and choirmaster were paid 10s.6d. (55p), and the choir a shilling (5p) each. The building was a great success and by February 1912 was fully let. There were five floors of offices plus shops on the ground floor. During the last decade, the diocesan offices have been modernised and upgraded. A Training Centre was opened in 2002 and a Chapel established on the fourth floor. More recently, the Bishop’s Rooms’ have been restored to their former glory. Ah yes, as agreed in 1911, the Directors of Church House Company are still obliged to provide the Bishop with coal for his fires if he so requires! Church House was, and still is, a great success due to the vision, energy and enterprise of forward-thinking Manchester entrepreneurs, whose successors carry the concept forward to face the challenges of the 21st century. ABOVE : The striking facade of Church House on Deansgate in the centre of Manchester. BELOW : Bishop Nigel accompanies Archbishop John Sentamu through the doors on his recent visit to the city. 7 The choirboys were paid a shilling each, and the Bishop can still claim his coal
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July - The Diocese of Manchester

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