Church History
St Nick’s has stood on Kingsway since 1932. Discover the story of our Grade II* listed building, the people who shaped it and the meaning behind its striking features.
Our Story at a Glance
Building the Church, 1928–1964
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1928 | The site of the temporary church is blessed. |
| 8 Dec 1928 | The Parish of St Nicholas, Burnage is formed. |
| 29 Jun 1931 | The church council accepts George Macfarlane & Son’s tender of £9,775 to build the permanent church. |
| 4 Oct 1931 | The foundation stone is laid by the Bishop of Manchester, Dr Guy Warman, before a congregation of several hundred. |
| 24 Sep 1932 | The church is consecrated by Bishop Guy Warman. The first baptism takes place the following day. |
| 1932–33 | The church is featured in The Architect & Building News and The Architects’ Journal. The final cost is about £11,600. |
| 1950 | A Compton “Electrone” organ is installed. |
| 5 Dec 1964 | The church extension is consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester, William Greer, completing the west gallery shown as “not yet built” on the 1931 plan. |
Restoration and Renewal, 1965–2002
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 9 Sep 1979 | The Guides and Brownies (8th Didsbury) celebrate 50 years of Guiding at St Nicholas. |
| 1985–86 | A £9,000 Restoration Appeal for external repairs reaches its target in just 14 months. |
| 27 May 1999 | A £1.108 million Heritage Lottery grant is confirmed – the result of 20 years of striving to realise a vision for the building. |
| 24 Jul 1999 | The old Rectory is demolished. |
| 3 Sep 2000 | Work begins, marked by an outdoor service in memory of the Old and New Halls. The total project cost is around £1.5 million. |
| 4 Feb 2001 | A time capsule is placed in the foundations of the new building works. |
| 28 Apr 2001 | The flag of St George flies from a new flagmast on the tower for the first time since 1962. |
| Jun 2002 | The restored building is dedicated by the Bishop of Manchester. |
| Sep 2002 | A two-volume history of St Nicholas, compiled by Bevan Taylor, is published to mark the 70th anniversary of the consecration. |
The People Behind the Building
The church was designed by Nugent Francis Cachemaille-Day – his first church. The idea came to him after a visit to Florence in 1923, where he was struck by the early basilica of San Miniato. The curved apse was deliberately planned to shield the building from the noise of Kingsway, mainly tramcars in the 1930s.
The original builders were George Macfarlane & Son of Chorlton-on-Medlock. The figure of St Nicholas above the main entrance is by the sculptor Donald Hastings.
The 2000–02 restoration was designed by Anthony Grimshaw Associates and built by Walter Carefoot & Son. It turned the west end of the church into a community hall and added the glass circular meeting room on the first floor, while the exterior remains as it was in 1932.
Rectors of St Nicholas
| Years | Rector |
|---|---|
| 1928–1938 | Herbert Arthur Barnett |
| 1938–1944 | Wilfrid Garlick |
| 1945–1951 | George Vivian Heyman Eliott |
| 1951–1958 | John Edward Russell Williams |
| 1958–1965 | David Arthur Edwards |
| 1965–1971 | Dennis Baggaley |
| 1971–1985 | Brian Wallwork Barker |
| 1985–1995 | Ting Suie Roy Chow |
| 1996–2002 | Lynne Connolly |
| 2003–2008 | Paul D. Rolfe |
| 2008–2021 | Rachel Mann |
Explore Our History
About Our Church
The building, its architect and its million-pound restoration, which created the community hall we use today.
The History of St Nicholas Church
Based on the history compiled by parishioner Bevan Taylor, a long-serving supporter of St Nick’s, to mark the church’s 70th anniversary.
The Symbolism of the Altar Cross
The cross above our altar provokes different reactions in everyone who sees it. Find out what lies behind its design.
Photo Gallery
See St Nick’s through the years in our photo gallery.