Church of All Souls, Manchester

The Church of All Souls stands on Every Street in Ancoats, a district in Manchester. William Hayley designed the building in the Romanesque style, using brown brick with stone dressing. Construction took place between 1839 and 1840 for Samuel Warren. It became a Grade II listed building in 1984. The church closed in the same year and later served as a joinery workshop. Now it remains unused. The church’s architectural significance lies in its Romanesque design and listed status. Its construction period and designer reflect Manchester’s 19th-century growth. The building’s use as a workshop shows how industrial spaces adapted after closure. The Grade II listing recognises its historical and architectural value. Its current state highlights the challenges of preserving such structures. Inside, the church retains its original Romanesque features. The brick and stone exterior remains largely unchanged. The interior space, once filled with pews, now echoes with emptiness. The joinery workshop left marks on the building’s fabric. Despite disuse, the structure stands as a quiet witness to Ancoats’ past.