We really do enjoy reading the magazine, although we have not lived in Miles Platting for thirty years. We now live in Glossop but my sister Sheila who still lives in Ancoats, sends us a copy. It is refreshing to our memories to read of people we know, places and activities around the area, makes very interesting reading.
In the spring and summer issue No. 22, a man named Stan was asking about St. Edmund’s, Monsall Street and about when it was demolished. We think it was about 15/16 years ago. The beautiful altar and reredos was kept in a warehouse somewhere and carefully restored over a period of about four years, then transferred to Christ the King church in Newton Heath. Looking as beautiful as ever!
My husband and I were married at St. Edmund’s in 1958 please find photo of the altar from our wedding album in it’s original form and a photo of it as it is now, in its new home. The priest on the wedding photo was Father Bailey, other priests at the time were Father Pilling and the Parish priest Father McCabe.
Also transferred to Christ the King are the stained glass windows from St. Edmund’s, depicting Our Lady of Lourdes, St. George, St. Patrick and St. Winifred; all carefully restored. I believe there are some others undergoing restoration. Thank God that the altar and windows survived the demolition.
When we celebrated our ruby wedding eight years ago, we went to Christ the King to attend a thanksgiving mass. We received a blessing from the priest and a photo of the altar at which we were married, in its new home!
Hope this is of interest to your readers.
Hilda And Norbert Normyle.
The following is taken from information provided by the church:
The Sanctuary
Christ the King Catholic Church Newton Heath, Manchester
The Reredos and Altars were taken from St. Edmund’s Church, Miles Platting, and re-erected here during the winter of 1994/95. The original commission was carried out in 1904, by the famous Tyrolean woodcarver Ferdinand Stuflesser who used Austrian Oak, for all the work.
The scenes portraying the Last Supper (Holy Thursday) the Crucifixion (Good Friday) and the Risen Lord in his Church. (Easter) The focal point of the Reredos is the Tabernacle, with the Presence of the Lord in Sacrament. This is flanked by statues of the Evangelists as a reminder of the Lord’s presence through his written Word.
The Reredos carries the statues of St. William of York and St. Edmund of Canterbury giving the national Church, honourable recognition. The side altar in honour of St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church reminds us of our Catholicity; and St. Patrick’s side altar is in recognition of the national origins of so many of the parishioners of St. Edmunds at the turn of the century.
The chair, pulpit and altar are the focal points of our celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The church has fairly recently had some new (to Christ The King) stained glass windows installed from another church.
Ed.
