St Andrew’s Church, Travis Street, was consecrated in 1831, when the area was still open with fields, rather than houses around. The church itself was built of stone and could seat 2000 people. Its clock tower was a local landmark.
The situation changed throughout the second half of the nineteenth century with the industrial development of Manchester, and the building of rows of terraced housing, and soon afterwards factories and workshops. As the nineteenth century progressed, the congregation changed from being a relatively wealthy one to one that represented the poorer elements of the community.
Even so, the church had a thriving Sunday school, with an average attendance of 450. An 1877 survey of the parishes of Manchester reported that St Andrew’s was amongst the poorest both in terms of its permanent income, and its weekly collection. The church was finally demolished in 1961 by which time there was hardly anyone living in the parish.
St Andrew’s Church, Ancoats
Picture of St Andrew’s Church
reproduced by kind permission of Chris Makepeace.
Photographs of the area around St Andrew’s Church, St Andrew’s Street, Ancoats, January, 2004
