English Heritage
The Grade II listedStructure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. Union Baptist Church in StretfordOne of the four major urban areas in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester., Greater Manchester, has been described by the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as one of the two grandest surviving Baptist churches in south-east Lancashire.[a]The other is the Claremont Chapel in Little Bolton.[1] It was opened in 1867 by its patron, the textile magnate and philanthropist John RylandsJohn Rylands (1801–1888) was an English entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the owner of the largest textile manufacturing concern in the United Kingdom, and Manchester’s first multi-millionaire. .[1]
The church was converted into office accommodation for a housing association in the late 20th century.[1][2] In 2012 it was restored to its original use as a place of worship after having been bought for £750,000 by the Iglesia ni Cristo,[3] a controversial unitarian Protestant Church founded by Felix Manalo in the Philippines in 1914.[4]
Architecture
The church is built of brick with an ashlarMasonry of squared and finely cut or worked stone, commonly used for the facing of a building. façade to the front and bricked sides. It is designed in a Classical style with some Baroque influences, by an unknown architect.[1][5]
The central double doors at the front are framed by a pair of “huge” Corinthian columns supporting a pedimentLow-pitched gable above a portico or façade..[1][5] The interior consists of a 3 x 5 bay hall with a single gallery; a vestryRoom in Christian churches for the storage of liturgical vestments, sacred vessels and parish records. and other rooms project to either side at the rear.[5]