St James Church Gorton and Abbey Hey - “People, Places and Pastimes - On the streets of Gorton”
Wellington Street, Gorton, St James Parish Church, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M188LJ
Immerse yourself in faith, history, beauty, and fun at our Heritage Open Days. There will be a guide book to help you on your tour, along with displays including historical photos and people to help you.
We will celebrate pastimes enjoyed by our ancestors and reminisce on the games we used to play. There will be activities to entertain you - hoola hoops, elastic skipping, jigsaws, snakes and ladders, ludo, beetle game, jacks, hopscotch, skipping...Come and have fun!
Refreshments available.
There has been a church on the site of St James since the mid 15th Century. It was then a 'wattle and daub' building which stood for 300 years and was replaced by an 18th Century church dedicated to St Thomas. The current church was built in 1871 thanks to the generosity of local industrialist and philanthropist, Charles Fredrick Beyer. It was built at a cost of £6421, 17 shillings and threepence! for the local workforce, primarily employees of Beyer Peacock, locomotive engineers.
It was designed by celebrated architect, George Shaw, on a grand scale with an elegant 120 ft spire. It has a soaring nave, clerestory windows, expansive east and west windows, a lady chapel and a pipe organ. There are beautiful stained glass windows, carved oak furnishings and a sculptured stone font. It is Grade 2 listed.
St James has a local ecumenical partnership with The Methodist Church since the 1970's and next door is a Church Centre used by the church and community. We look forward to welcoming you.
Wellington Street, Gorton, St James Parish Church, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M188LJ
The Altar can be accessed via a portable ramp. A disabled toilet could be used in the separate Church Centre next door.