About Our Church

St Nick’s was the first church designed by the architect Nugent Francis Cachemaille-Day. 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 foundation stone was laid in 1931, while services were held in the “old” hall. The church was completed in 1932 at a cost of £11,600, and in 1963–64 an extension was added at the rear to create choir stalls.

In the late 1990s, the old rectory and two halls were demolished and the land sold to prepare for a major restoration. The work, costing over £1 million, was carried out in 2000–02 under the guidance of the architect Anthony Grimshaw.

The interior was redesigned, with the rear (west end) of the church, including the choir stalls, converted into a hall for community use. The new hall and the worship area are separated by a moveable screen, and a striking circular glass meeting room was built at first-floor level. The exterior remains as it was in 1932.

As part of the restoration, a new rectory was built on the corner of Kingsway and Poplar Road. The restored building was dedicated by the Bishop of Manchester in June 2002.