How many of you know that a song by The Smiths mentions the Holy Name Catholic Church? Morrissey sang about lifting lead from its roof. The Holy Name has stood here since 1871. It is a landmark known to many.
The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ is grand. It is cathedral-sized Neo-Gothic. Joseph Aloysius Hansom designed it for the Jesuits. Lady Mary Stapleton-Bretherton gave the land. She was a Lancastrian Catholic heiress. The church cost a whopping £15,000. More was spent on high-quality fittings.
Architectural historian Nickolas Pevsner said Hansom never designed a better church after the Holy Name. A steeple was planned but scrapped. Years later Adrian Gilbert Scott added a shorter tower. It has a cyclops eye that observes the students opposite.
For many years the Holy Name Catholic Church served the Irish community. They had immigrated here. It was a home from home for those displaced. The Irish felt the Holy Name was their church in Manchester. But there is also an earlier English Catholic history.
In the 16th century the Reformation changed everything. King Henry VIII broke with the Pope. But pockets of Catholic resistance remained in England. Manchester and Lancashire were at the heart of this. Imagine how the Holy Name felt to these Catholics. Their ancestors had worshipped in secret. Now they could enter this grand church.
There were earlier Catholic churches in Manchester. But none were larger or more prominent than the Holy Name Catholic Church. The sanctuary is open. There is no rood screen to block the view of the altar. The reredos frames the Host during adoration.
The pulpit is also a focus. It is made of Brazilian green onyx. Vivid mosaics depict English Catholic martyrs. They paid the price for their faith. The baptistry has an onyx font. Its font cover delights tourists. You will find the names of the De Traffords on the ironwork. They were a Catholic aristocratic family. Many others helped build this magnificent temple.
The Holy Name celebrated its 150th anniversary recently. The church remains a sanctuary for refugees. They are fleeing persecution. Students crowd the pews every Sunday. They come from all over the world. The Holy Name is an integral part of their lives. Many volunteer in shelters and food banks. They maintain lasting relationships with the church.
The Holy Name Catholic Church reminds us that history is not static. It is made of memories and documents. It is made by people and stones. The Holy Name has been a refuge for the marginalized. People find peace in this beautiful building. It was constructed with them in mind.