Edgar Wood Centre
Encyclopedia
The Edgar Wood Centre is a former Church of Christ, Scientist
building in Fallowfield, Manchester
, England
. Pevsner
considered it "the only religious building in Lancashire that would be indispensable in a survey of twentieth century church design in all England." It is a Grade I listed building, and on the Register of Buildings at Risk maintained by English Heritage
.
for the Christian Scientists' first church in Britain. Construction began in 1903–4. A shortage of space and money led to modifications to the design, and further work took place in 1905–7.
Pevsner
described the church as "one of the most original buildings of that time in England, or indeed anywhere." The church was decorated by bronze lettering of parts of the Bible and works by Mary Baker Eddy
, an Arabic organ screen, and chairs designed by Wood.
The church closed in 1971 and was heavily vandalised before reopening as the Edgar Wood Centre in 1975. In turn, this closed in 2003, and the building is currently used as a UCKG centre. It has been placed on the English Heritage Register of Buildings at Risk 2007. The church is a Grade I listed building as of 18 December 1963. Most of the furnishings and stained glass have been removed.
Church of Christ, Scientist
The Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, by Mary Baker Eddy. She was the author of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Christian Science teaches that the "allness" of God denies the reality of sin, sickness, death, and the material world...
building in Fallowfield, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
considered it "the only religious building in Lancashire that would be indispensable in a survey of twentieth century church design in all England." It is a Grade I listed building, and on the Register of Buildings at Risk maintained by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
History
The building was designed by the architect Edgar WoodEdgar Wood
Edgar Wood was an architect who practised from Manchester at the turn of the 20th century and gained a considerable reputation both in Britain and abroad, notably in Germany. British design was then of European significance. His work is principally domestic, but he designed several churches and...
for the Christian Scientists' first church in Britain. Construction began in 1903–4. A shortage of space and money led to modifications to the design, and further work took place in 1905–7.
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
described the church as "one of the most original buildings of that time in England, or indeed anywhere." The church was decorated by bronze lettering of parts of the Bible and works by Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of Christian Science , a Protestant American system of religious thought and practice religion adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist, and others...
, an Arabic organ screen, and chairs designed by Wood.
The church closed in 1971 and was heavily vandalised before reopening as the Edgar Wood Centre in 1975. In turn, this closed in 2003, and the building is currently used as a UCKG centre. It has been placed on the English Heritage Register of Buildings at Risk 2007. The church is a Grade I listed building as of 18 December 1963. Most of the furnishings and stained glass have been removed.