Manc Modernists Save Church: St Raphael

Here is good work from Manchester Modernist Society. 

‘Following a successful application by the Manchester Modernist Society to English Heritage - the strikingly modern St Raphael the Archangel (1961-3) in Millbrook, Stalybridge has now been listed Grade II.

‘Members of the Society visited the church in the summer and were wowed by the overall design, the stained glass and the bespoke Stations of the Cross. They were shocked to hear just a couple of weeks later that the Church was to be closed by the Diocese of Shrewsbury, due to the expense of maintenance.

‘The Society quickly pulled together a band of experts and swiftly submitted a listing application - demolition was on the cards - but the listing was approved by the Minister for Tourism and Heritage from 13 December 2011.

‘The layout of the church is historic because it is a precursor of Vatican II, after which it became the norm for the priest to face the congregation; St Raphael’s already features this plan as the congregation focuses on a ‘centralised’ altar.

‘The building and its interior is largely intact, as it was when it was completed in 1963.

'Jack Hale of the Manchester Modernist Society said “When we heard that the church had closed we just had to act in order to try to save it from further decay, vandalism or even worse –we were shocked to discover (after the listing was approved) that the council had received notification of intention to demolish – thankfully this has now been prevented and this remarkable building has been saved.”

'St Raphael’s is by Massey and Massey of Warrington. It features superb stained glass by Pierre Fourmaintraux of Powells (Whitefriars Studios), bespoke ceramic Stations of the Cross and water stoops by Alan Boyson and a central pendant light fitting by McGloughlin of Dublin.'

You can find the building on Huddersfield Road, Millbrook, Stalybridge, SK 15 3JL