This is the site of St Saviours Church.
Chorlton Upon Medlock
St. Saviour's was built at the corner of Plymouth Grove and Upper Brook Street at the expense of Scholes Birch of Chorlton upon Medlock, who became its patron, and whose son Rev. Edward Birch became first rector.
The foundation stone was laid on 2 July 1835 and the church consecrated on 11 November 1836. It was assigned a District by Bishop's Instrument on 1 March 1837 and by Order in Council, 24 June 1856 (London Gazette, 1 July).
Part of the parish was assigned to St. John Chrysostom, Victoria Park, Rusholme, by Order in Council, 16 May 1878 (London Gazette, 21 May). Part was exchanged with St. Thomas's, Ardwick, by Order in Council, 1 December 1955, (London Gazette, 6 December). In 1967 some was assigned to St. Ambrose, Chorlton upon Medlock, by Order in Council, 28 July (London Gazette, 3 August 1967).
In 1971 the parish was united with that of St. Paul with St. Luke as Christ Church, Brunswick, by Order in Council, 23 June, (London Gazette, 25 June 1971).
The last service in the original church was held on 28 August 1960, and until 1964 services were held in the Parish Room, while a new church was being erected.
The foundation stone of the new church was laid on 11 May 1963 and the dedication service was held on 21 March 1964.
This second building is the one I remember (Picture kindly donated by Rev. Martin Gooder who was the minister whilst I attended with my family).
I fondly remember playing hide & seek in the graveyard as a child after services with the other children of the church (weeds were much higher and we were much smaller!).
All that remains of the site now is the graveyard and original surrounding fence.
The mound in the middle of the graveyard is the footprint of the church and is fronted by what’s left of the second building’s entrance steps (on which my parent’s wedding photos were taken).
I believe the cross in the middle (and the metal entrance arch) is made from steelwork taken from the demolished church.
Unfortunately this site had to be abandoned due to proposed road restructuring (which never took place). The congregation from St Saviours settled 350m away in a new purpose built church on Brunswick Street. ‘Brunswick Parish Church’ opened on 8 June 1974. This still thrives today.
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