Past and present parishioners came from near and far to say a fond farewell to St Philip's Church, Gorton.

More than 100 were in the congregation on Sunday, January 30, when the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev David Walker preached at a celebration service.

He gave thanks for the life of the church next to Sunny Brow Park on Brookhurst Road, which had been at the heart of its close-knit community for more than a century.

Within the next few weeks, the red-brick church built in 1908 to serve the Sunny Brow and Ryder Brow areas will no longer be run by the Church of England. Another Christian church has been in negotiations to take over the building.

The decision followed a steady decline in the numbers attending in recent years. 

In December 2019, a public meeting appealed for support from the wider community. It was pointed out that the congregation had shrunk to a ‘very small number’ of committed members who could no longer shoulder the ever-increasing costs of maintenance.

Fortunately, essential roof repairs were completed thanks to a legacy from a former parishioner. 

Churchwarden Sue Byrne said St Philip’s had continued as a meeting place for the Parktastic group and a local playgroup. It is still in use for Sunday worship by the Victory Charismatic Baptist Church and a Romanian church.

The thanksgiving service was conducted by Gorton and Abbey Hey team rector the Rev Craig Smith, assisted by the Rev Carol Masters (team vicar) and Avril Scott, lay reader at Emmanuel Church. 

There was a special welcome for George Carter, reader at St Philip’s for many years before moving out of the area. The regular stalwarts chose some of their favourite hymns to sing. There was also a display of old photographs depicting events over the years, including several weddings and the crowning of the Rose Queen which brought back many happy memories.

Inevitably it was a sad occasion for all those who had a close connection with St Philip’s for most or all of their lives. 

Margaret McGee, a long-time member whose children were christened there, recalled happier times when the church was the beating heart of the community ‘with Brownies, Scouts, the brigades, the Mothers Union and the Whit walks.’ 

More recently it was home to a slimming club and St John Ambulance activities. 

The remaining loyal core of regulars have been invited to worship at either of Gorton’s two remaining C of E churches St James’s, off Gorton Lane or Emmanuel, West Gorton. 

For further information, contact Rev Craig Smith 0161 231 7041 or Sue Byrne 07791 858 302. 

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