The work of E. W. Pugin

Praxiteles,
In a deep recess of my mind I have an image of St. Josephs Glasthule with a sort of stand-alone spire/belfry. I always thought it (the plan) looked very incongruous. Never built, do you know if that was part of the Pugin + Ashlin design or a later proposal?
Thanks
KB2

Hi Folks,
I’ve been ringing All Saints Barton for 2 weeks without success to gain access. I’ll just have to try on spec. In the meantime for those of you who can get BBC2 there is an half hour documentary about Gorton Monastery and our trials and tribulations in getting through the funding and red tape. We had a private screening this week and the photography is absolutely stunning. So watch out for

” A Passion for Churches” BBC 2, 7.30 p.m 8th March 2006

Best wishes

Hi Luzarches

Attached are two views of altar and sanctuary, both showing altar rails. The rails were present at the time of deconsecration and are probably post 1914. (or 1910) Immediately prior to 1914 there was a Rood Screen which lasts for less than a year. I’ll check the details when i get to work on Monday. I cant tell if there are rails to the side altars at the top of the aisles, so will check pictures on Monday.

Second time lucky
🙂

My memory was playing tricks, the altar rails were in place by 1914 as you can see on the attached. If i had to hazard a guess i would place them at the latest 1885, the date the high altar was consecrated. The rood screen didnt last very long and appears to be part of minor re-ordering of the Church, possibly as part of the 1911 golden anniversary celebrations when the whole of the Church was re-decorated. The reredos is in appalling state, about only 1/3 rd survives. More on altar and reredos later. Incidentally the altar is by Peter Paul Pugin

It’s a beautiful day here in Manchester so i thought i’d go to Mass, if thats the only way to get a look at Pugin’s All Saint’s Barton interior. Wrong:( Whats the world coming to when you can’t get into Church on Sundays? However took some exterior shots. Bit difficult as all gates padlocked and views obscured from south by friary and from north by trees, however here they are. first 4 of 14

All Saints Barton
third 4 of 14

Dear Gorton,

Thanks a million for those beautiful pictures of Barton Church. From the facade, you can immediately see the same idea of the soaring arch whichE. W. Pugin used in Cobh, in Dadizele in Belgium and in Glasthule in Dublin. We must find out who has charge of the church and obtain entry.

Dear Praxiteles,
Thanks, i’ve got a phone number and web address for All Saints but no answers. It was’nt possible to even knock on friary door cos gates were padlocked. Concerned that no activity on a Sunday, although at least one set of tyre tracks in the snow. If you look closely at picture 4 you can see door appears to be nailed shut and picture 14 shows damage to roof. Are we facing another “Gorton Monastery”. will keep you posted.

Hi Sangallo,
Reredos at Gorton Monastery

In 1883 an outdoor workshop on the north side of the Friary garden was constructed to serve as brother Patrick Dalton’s workshop for the creation of the high altar. P.P. Pugin designed this altar, which was one of the largest exemplars in the country at the time of its consecration in 1885. An article in Manchester Faces and Places written in 1900 describes in detail the altar and reredos as it existed at that time.

“The altar and reredos are very elaborate in decoration. At the back of the altar is the marble and alabaster reredos, forming a buttress to the great central canopy, which rises to the height of over 40 feet. The bottom of the reredos is composed of two large piers, that on the Epistle side containg the piscine, and that on the Gospel side the aumbry. On the top of these piers are canopied niches, in which are figures of St Anthony, St Clare, St Elizabeth of Hungary, and St Bonaventure. Arches with traceried and crocketed gables connect the piers with the walls of the chancel. On either side of the central canopy, which is supported by marble columns, are flying buttresses formed of open tracery work, and at the bottom of these buttresses are piers terminating in niches. In the niches on the gospel side is a figure of St Francis, and in that on the Epistle side is a statue of St Dominic. The throne, supported by two angels, is placed immediately under the central canopy, and is approached by steps following the line of the apsidal chancel, at the back of the reredos. The altar and tabernacle stand away from the reredos, and are approached by three stone steps. The altar top is of pure white marble supported by eight Californian marble shafts, and beneath the altar are panels on which are varied subjects emblematic of the eucharist. The tabernacle is of alabaster, richly moulded and carved, and has a door of beaten brass”

Sadly the altar has been heavily vandalised and presently all that remains are the stone steps and the brick base. The reredos has also been vandalised, mostly at the sides and upper edges. On the attached sketch, taken from an old photograph i’ve marked up in red the existing remains of the reredos. Anything out side of the red line has been lost and even those parts inside the red line have been subject to damage as you’ll see from some sample photos i’ve attached.

Some times it makes me sad:( and other times it makes me mad:mad: but one day we will have the money to restore it – latest estimate