Church of the Holy Name, Oxford Road, Manchester (2020)

Holy Name Church, 339 Oxford Road, Greater Manchester, M13 9PG

Available anytime

Pre-booking not required

Explore the only Grade 1 listed Catholic Church in Manchester, the history of its changing communities, and the secrets of its amazing roof, via a static exhibition, guided tours, and a presentation from the architect supervising its restoration.

Manchester’s only Grade 1 listed Catholic church was built by Joseph Hansom in 1871 and formed the heart of the community for thousands of Irish immigrant workers for over 100 years until housing clearances dispersed the population.

During this year’s heritage open day there will be a static exhibition display in the church to showcase some of the shared memories from people of its heyday as a parish and around the church restoration project. These include:

• Housing clearance and loss of community maps and memories
• Remembering the Whit walks
• Climate change and the Holy Name roof
• The pot vault – an innovative construction story
• Photographs collected from students of the University of Manchester Architectural department.

Throughout the open day there will be regular tours of the building by members of the Church’s community.

There will be also be illustrated talks by Architect Mark Pearce who will cover the church’s famous “pot vault” and what the restoration project told us about climate change at 12 noon, 1.30 and 2.30.