Our Lady of Grace, Prestwich

Sources

Catholic Bishops' Conference, Taking Stock: building history and architectural survey. https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/prestwich-our-lady-of-grace/ History and architecture reviewed. Current services, visitor access and map position have not been rechecked. The survey listing status is not a fresh statutory-list search.

History & description

Our Lady of Grace in Prestwich opened in 1931, following a foundation-stone ceremony in 1930. Harold Greenhalgh designed the church in an elaborate Gothic Revival style. It followed a Catholic mission founded in 1889 and a school-chapel opened in 1891; that earlier building subsequently became the parish hall.

The Fairfax Road front
The red-brick church has Portland stone dressings and a slate roof. Its richly detailed entrance front includes slender octagonal towers, pointed openings and a large traceried window. The long nave leads to a polygonal sanctuary.

Carving and decoration
Taking Stock records substantial surviving early furnishings, including carved pew ends and an ornate timber reredos. Side-chapel carving is associated with Ferdinand Stuflesser of Ortisei. The church was consecrated in 1956 and refurbished by Greenhalgh & Williams in 1965.

Sources: Church / directory reference.

Map position: church point or building centre from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Photograph: Our Lady of Grace RC Church - geograph.org.uk - 5647284.jpg by Gerald England, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0. Shown at reduced size; no other alterations.