In September 2023, the Diocese of Manchester planted a new church in the centre of the city to work particularly with students and young people. The church launched in temporary premises at FAC251 - Factory Manchester on Princess Street, and has welcomed congregations to worship there since. Now a new home for the church has been purchased and the keys handed over on Thursday 26th October. The permanent location for Fabric Church will be Ardwick Barracks, a large iconic building just one mile south-east of the city centre. Priority work is now underway to prepare an area of the premises for worship by January 2024.
This new church is part of the 'Engaging the Centre: Resourcing the Region' project that has been approved by, and has received funding from, the Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board.
The city centre church has been launched with support from the Church Revitalisation Trust (CRT) and is serving the growing population of people - particularly young adults and students - living in Manchester. The city centre has seen remarkable regeneration and growth in recent years, with 100,000 young adults expected to be living in the city centre by 2025. The church will also foster further Christian renewal in the diocese by planting other church communities.
Manchester Diocese has led the way with innovative approaches to opening new churches and revitalising existing ones. For example, in October 2021, Nelson Street Church opened in an old Temperance Hall in the centre of Rochdale. This church has successfully created a welcoming Christian community in the heart of the town.
Under the leadership of Bishop David Walker, the diocese is working to implement a vision of being a ‘worshipping, growing and transforming Christian presence at the heart of every community’. This new church will expand the diocese’s offering to those who live and work in Manchester city centre.
