Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Manchester

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Coordinates: 53°30′23″N 2°15′37″W / 53.506386°N 2.2602526°W / 53.506386; -2.2602526
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Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Manchester
Style
Classical architecture
Groundbreaking1860
Completed1861
Administration
ArchdioceseGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Clergy
Priest in chargeThe Reverend Presbyter Demetrios Kontelides[3]

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Manchester (

Salford, Greater Manchester. Completed in 1861 in a classical architectural style,[1] it is the oldest purpose-built Greek Orthodox church in England[4][5][6] and since 1980, a grade II listed building for its “special architectural or historic interest”.[2] As of 2017 the church provides liturgies on Sundays and acts as a hub for a community of an estimated 2,500 Greek diaspora,[7] particularly Greek Cypriots,[6] British Cypriots[8] and Greek students in Manchester.[7][9][10][11][12][13]

A church hall annexe is used for a Greek community school[14] with over 100 pupils studying the culture of Greece, history of Greece and Greek language.[6] The church hall is also used to celebrate events in the calendar of saints and the liturgical year such as Easter, Christmas and other traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church.[8]

Architecture, building and artworks

The church building is located on the Bury New Road (A56) in Broughton, Salford, and was designed by the architects Clegg & Knowles who also designed many of the commercial warehouses in Manchester.[1] The foundation stone for the Church of the Annunciation was laid in 1860[6] and the building was finally completed a year later in 1861 with a classical basilica. The icons on the iconostasis were painted by Theodoros Vryzakis,[1][6] a key figure in Greek academic art of the 19th century whose work is also exhibited in the National Art Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum in Athens, Greece.[15] The Pevsner Architectural Guide for Lancashire[1] describes the carving in the church as “uncommonly well done” and the main building as:

A demonstration of the wealth of the 19th century Greek community. Elegant, powerful and purposeful, making a great show.[1]

The church was initially built with a

Heritage Lottery Fund with work undertaken from 2009 onwards.[16][7][17]

The church building was first listed by Historic England on 18 January 1980[2] and under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.[2] An annexe was built[when?] to accommodate a school and serves as a church hall for other events.

Administration and clergy

The church is part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain[18] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. As of 2017 the Manchester community is served by The Reverend Presbyter Demetrios Kontelides,[3] who succeeded[when?] the Archimandrite Nicolaos Sergakis.[16][10]

Several priests (παπάς) have served the Greek community in Manchester since 1800, most notably

Patriarch of Constantinople,[when?] awarded an honorary doctorate of Theology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens[when?] and granted the Order of the Redeemer for his services by George I of Greece.[4][6]

History of Manchester's Greek community

Further information: Greeks in the United Kingdom

The Greek community in Manchester was started in the early 19th century by emigrants from the

Aegean island of Chios after the Chios massacre.[4] Many of the first immigrants were traders of mastic who fled Turkish oppression during the Greek War of Independence.[4] In April 1843 the community passed a vote for the creation of a Greek centre of worship in Manchester.[6]

From 1843 to 1860 improvised churches were used for worship, including sites on Waterloo Road in the

Cheetham Hill Road and a chapel on Wellington Street.[4][5]
The growing Greek and Cypriot community in Manchester meant that a more permanent residence was required and a site in Broughton was acquired where building work started in 1860.

From the 1950s to 1970s the community grew further as more

United Kingdom Census 2011 and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).[20][19] Around 150 to 200 people attend Sunday services at the church in Broughton.[7]

The church celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday 9 May 2010[21][22] with a sermon by the Archbishop of Thyateira Gregorios (Theocharous).[23]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0300105835
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f Anon (1980) Historic England listed building no: 1386103 Greek Church of the Annunciation and attached former Presbytery, historicengland.org.uk
  3. ^ a b Anon (2015). "The Revd. Presbyter Demetrios Kontelides Serves Manchester". thyateira.org.uk. London. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015.
  4. ^
    OCLC 45829910
    .
  5. ^ a b c Anon (2017). "Migration and ethnic history: Greeks". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester: Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Anon (2016). "History of the Greek Orthodox Church and its Community in Manchester". greekchurchofmanchester.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e Anon (2009). "Manchester, England: Inner-city church gets £100,000". news.bbc.co.uk. London: BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009.
  8. ^ a b Anon (2016). "Church of Annunciation, Manchester". greekchurchofmanchester.org. Manchester. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016.
  9. ^ Anon (2005). "The Hellenic Students Society of Manchester". hellenic.manchester.ac.uk. University of Manchester. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b Anon (2014). "A student guide to Churches in Greater Manchester" (PDF). stpeters.org.uk. Manchester: St Peter's House Church and Chaplaincy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2017.
  11. ^ Anon (2008). "Hellenic-Society: New Committee,Greetings from Father Nikolaos, Antigone, Greek Dance, Basketball". umu.man.ac.uk. Manchester: University of Manchester Students' Union. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017.
  12. ^ Anon (2009). "Hellenic Society of Manchester". hellsoc.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009.
  13. YouTube
  14. ^ Anon (2017). "The School Community (το σχολείο της κοινότητας)". greekchurchofmanchester.org. Manchester. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017.
  15. ^ Anon (2016). "Vryzakis Theodoros (1814 or 1819 Thebes – 1878 Munich)". nationalgallery.gr. Athens: National Gallery (Athens). Archived from the original on 5 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b Anon (2009). "Churches land lotto cash windfall". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Manchester: Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017.
  17. ^ Anon (2017). "Renovation of the Greek Orthodox Church of Manchester". lloydandsmith.co.uk. Lloyd & Smith Limited. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017.
  18. ^ Anon (2016). "Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain". thyateira.org.uk. London. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016.
  19. ^ a b Anon (2016). "EU referendum and Brexit picture essay: 'Europe cannot stand alone without you': EU nationals in the UK". theguardian.com. London: The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
  20. ^ Anon (2012). "Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by foreign country of birth (Table 1.3)". ons.gov.uk. Newport: Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original (xls) on 5 January 2016.
  21. YouTube
  22. ^ Anon (2010). "Sermon of his Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain on the Occasion of the Festival Liturgy held to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation of the Mother of God in Manchester". thyateira.org.uk. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017.
  23. ^ "Theocharous, Archbishop Gregorios". Who's Who. Vol. 1992 (online ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

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