The Former
Corpus Christi Basilica - Miles Platting The former Corpus
Christi Basilica on Varley Street in Miles Platting was
once home to the Norbertines, a religious order founded
by Father Norbert on Christmas Day in 1121. The
Norberts arrived in Manchester in 1889 and set up home at
the Oldham Road Flint Glass Works on Varley
Street. They commissioned Ernest Gunson to
design Corpus Christi that was constructed between
1905 and 1906. Pevsner describes the
building as, "Large, of red brick with
pale sandstone dressings, in the Italian
Romanesque style." Inside it
featured a, "Tunnel-vaulted aisle with
a series of chapels in low arches."
The image below is shown here
with the permission of Mike Berrell.
It comes from the
Churches of Britain & Ireland Website
 An article on the BBC web site, dated
April 27, 2007, was entitled "Basilica
closes after 118 years". It went on
to say that, "A basilica in Manchester is
to close because it will cost the religious order
living there too much to repair. The Prior, Fr
Hugh says the Corpus Christi Basilica in Miles
Platting has been 'horrifically neglected' and
will cost millions to renovate. As a result,
the nine priests and brothers from the Norbertine
community are being forced to move. The order has
lived in the area for 118 years A final mass
was held at the Varley Street basilica on Friday
evening." The Norberts first moved to St.
Chad’s Church in the Cheetham area of Manchester
(see below). The community transferred to
Chelmsford in 2008.
  After the Norberts left
the building was boarded up and sat vacant.
 The image above is shown with the permission of Mike Berrell In March of 2011, when these images were taken, the building has signs on it for, "USMANIA". USMANIA is a banqueting company that offers the former church as a unique venue for events such as wedding banquets.      |