Building A Church For 21st Century Worship
Fabric Church Exterior
Andrew Parsons, Director of Building Development at Revitalise Trust, shares what it takes to work with a diocese to create a building fit for 21st century worship as we go behind the scenes at Fabric Church Manchester.
It began with a vision: to establish a city-centre Resource Church in the heart of Manchester. However, the Church of England no longer had any suitably large buildings in the area. During the 1960s and 70s, Manchester’s centre had become a post-industrial wasteland, leading to the sale of most Anglican churches. Decades later, following a major building boom, the city-centre experienced a remarkable revival - its population grew to around 100,000, including a vibrant community of students.
So along with Mark Roper, now Vicar of Fabric Church, we began a journey of prayer and investigation to see what we might be able to do to bring that vision to life.
Finding the right building
In 2023, after three years of searching, countless prayers, and many visits to buildings that never quite fit, we finally discovered an extraordinary property. It had been purchased two years earlier by an independent church, who soon realised they lacked the financial resources and expertise to bring their vision to life. With remarkable generosity, they agreed to sell it to us. The process of securing planning consent for change of use was long and challenging, yet it felt as though God had preserved this building for us all along - and that the previous owners had simply been its caretakers until the time was right.
Upper meeting space before
Phase 1
We developed a comprehensive master plan for the long-term growth of the site, designed to be implemented in stages. A trust was established to ensure that all funds were managed responsibly, with regular updates provided to the Manchester Diocese and the Church Commissioners, who supported the initial phase of the project. Future funding and development would then become the responsibility of Fabric Church. This master plan was vital in laying the groundwork for future expansion - ensuring that essential infrastructure such as fire exits, accessibility, heating, and lighting were all properly in place.
While waiting for planning consent and the outcome of various negotiations, we transformed an upstairs floor into a temporary gathering space. For the past 18 months, the church has been meeting there. It’s a versatile, multi-purpose area that also functions during the week as a co-working hub for students, a venue for Alpha courses, and a space for student gatherings and Sunday services.
Remarkably, they’ve almost outgrown it already!
Upper meeting space after
Next stage
At the time of writing, we are preparing to begin work on the main auditorium, located in what is currently known as The Drill Hall. This stunning space will accommodate up to 500 worshippers. We’ve already secured planning consent to replace the existing roof with a fully insulated one, along with approval for the roofing materials. At this stage, we’re also carefully planning the layout of all fire exits and accessibility points to ensure the building meets every safety and inclusion requirement. In addition, we’re in discussions with the owners of the neighbouring property to arrange space for parking our crane - a surprisingly complex negotiation in itself!
The Drill Hall
Looking ahead
We have exciting plans for the future, including a café, co-working space, and even a spin studio! These initiatives will provide new reasons for people to step through the doors and offer an introduction to church life.
God’s provision
Once the project is complete, the building will be an incredible space. Perfectly located on Oxford Road - it is on a major bus route and just a six-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station. You couldn’t find a building of this size any closer to the city centre; it’s such a testament to God’s provision.
Fabric Church describe themselves as a ‘fun, free, filled, fearless family’. They currently meet for three different worship services on a Sunday, run courses throughout the week, as well as various clubs and community groups. They are already having a huge impact locally. Find out more by visiting www.fabricchurch.org