There is a north–south divide, not only between Manchester and London, but more importantly, within Manchester itself. The Manchester economic miracle has largely passed north Manchester by, whilst parts of Chorlton and Didsbury in the south are increasingly indistinguishable from Chelsea.

The Manchester Mission of the Ordinariate is based in New Moston, very much on the north of Manchester, between Moston, Blackley and Failsworth. The Church of St Margaret Mary, New Moston was built in 1957, though the parish goes back to 1935, when Fr George Richardson arrived and said Sunday Mass in Broadway Baths before the first temporary church (later the school hall) was built. Relics of old parish life are found in a carved statue of St Margaret Mary and a lovely baroque monstrance.

The 1957 church is a modern church in a classical, basilica shape, with modernist features, such as round skylights and angular niches. The twelve niches in the porch now house icons of the twelve apostles, ‘written’ by Fr Neil Chatfield of the Eastbourne Mission, and blessed by Bishop David.

The Church was slated for closure about 10 years ago by the Diocese of Salford, having been clustered with two neighbouring churches. Nine years ago, following the death of the previous parish priest, the Diocese had a change of heart and decided to dedicate the church to the life of the Ordinariate, with the Divine Worship liturgy being the main Sunday Mass. This was an answer to much prayer by the members of the Ordinariate Mission, which had been based in Heywood for six years, but which needed a new home. As pastor of the Mission, I had looked at all the churches in Salford which the Diocese were planning to close, as possible homes for the Ordinariate, and (though the Diocese did not know it) St Margaret Mary’s was second on my list (and they decided not to close the first).

Every year has seen new people received into the church, baptised and confirmed in the Ordinariate Mission. Two ongoing catechesis classes are running in the church, together with a weekly Bible Study, which looks at the upcoming Sunday readings.

Parish life also includes baptisms of children, and preparation for first Holy Communion. Children and their parents meet each week after school in the Church Hall for catechesis (based on Dora Nash’s excellent book, Jesus Comes to Me). For several years we have had the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal come over the Pennines from Leeds to lead a retreat day for the First Communion candidates and their parents, and leading them in a dedication to Mary and receiving a Miraculous Medal, which has been well received.

The church was saddened earlier this year at the death from cancer of Deacon Stephen O’Connor, who served as a Deacon for four years, with great fruitfulness. Deacon Stephen, before he knew he was ill, encouraged David Montgomery to explore a vocation to the permanent diaconate in the Ordinariate. David is now a candidate for the diaconate, and serving in the Mission in Manchester.

The church is blessed with an active and gifted music ministry. We have a choir as well as three organists who play for the main Sunday Mass, other sung Masses, and Choral Evensong and Benediction once a month. For many years the Rudgate Singers (ably led by Mike Forbester) have sung at St Margaret Mary’s for the traditional Advent Procession, usually on the eve of Advent Sunday.

People say that there is a welcoming community at St Margaret Mary’s. It is a culturally diverse worshipping community, which meets both in the church for worship, and in the porch after Sunday Mass for tea, coffee and cake. The best way to get a sense of the place is to come along to the 10.30am Sunday Mass and stay to meet people afterwards over a cup of tea.

Fr Andrew Starkie, Pastor of the Manchester Mission