Central Halls are the most prominent monuments of urban non-conformity, and in terms of architectural history they represent a unique building of social and cultural significance. These buildings have never been studied in-depth. In 2007, The University of Manchester and the Methodist Church Property Office received funding under the AHRC/ESRC ‘Religion and Society Programme’ for a Research Studentship. The research student is Miss Angela Connelly and the project is jointly supervised by Professor Michael Hebbert and Dr Andrew Crompton. The student is attached to the Manchester Architectural Research Centre
Central Halls were built between 1886 and 1945, in most major British towns and cities mainly by the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Situated on wide main thoroughfares they are camoflauged churches - a stark contrast to traditional churches with a cruciform plan and Gothic detailing.
Through a combination of social work, entertainment and Methodist fellowship, the Central Halls attracted weekly congregations in the thousands. They also provided space for philantropic and charitable organisations and so are very much public sacred spaces in use by a wide variety of people and in the service of the wider community.
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