Join the National Churches Trust to discover the rich spiritual and architectural story of Manchester on a special guided walking tour.

Step into the rich spiritual and architectural story of Manchester on a special guided walking tour of some of the city’s most treasured sacred spaces.

Open to all, with early booking available for Friends, this journey will take us to St Ann's church, where the tower marks the centre of the city, and surveyors used to measure distances to other locations from a benchmark that is still visible at the tower door. Then we will visit the beautifully restored Hidden Gem church, a peaceful sanctuary tucked away among the bustle and, together with St Ann’s) a recipient of grant funding from the National Churches Trust.

We will also visit the magnificent Manchester Cathedral, where centuries of faith, music and craftsmanship meet beneath soaring medieval arches. The stone walls have survived wars, witnessed the birth of the anti-slavery movement and lived the Industrial Revolution first hand. After the tour you might like to head back to the Cathedral for Choral Evensong.

Join us to discover beautiful architecture and heritage, and to experience Manchester’s sacred heart on foot. The walk will be approximately 2km or 1.5 miles in total. Manchester city centre is relatively flat but there are uneven surfaces, kerbs and steps.

The tour will take place on Tuesday 3 November, starting at 11.30am.

Tickets cost £45 per person (plus online booking fees), entry and guided tours of the churches, and a sandwich lunch.

This event will raise funds for the work of the National Churches Trust, supporting churches, chapels and meeting houses across the UK.

Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Cathedral has stood at the heart of the city since 1215, becoming a cathedral in 1847 with the creation of the Diocese of Manchester. A Grade I listed building, it has witnessed royal charters, Reformation upheaval, industrial expansion and the devastation of the 1941 Blitz. Its medieval choir stalls and misericords, among the finest in Europe, feature vivid carvings, from scolding wives to backgammon players. Today, amid ancient stonework and historic archives, music still soars, artists sketch in quiet corners, and the cathedral continues to shape Manchester’s unfolding story.

https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/manchester-cathedral-manchester

Image: Michael Beckwith

St Mary

St Mary's, affectionately known as The Hidden Gem, was founded in 1794 to serve one of Manchester’s most deprived districts. Tucked behind modern streets, it has stood on the same site ever since, its presbytery continuously occupied. Much rebuilt over time, it remains a spiritual oasis amid the city’s commercial bustle. Inside, Norman Adams’ powerful Fourteen Stations of the Cross, considered the greatest work of his life, confront the sorrow and tenderness of Holy Week with unflinching honesty, inviting reflection, courage and compassion in equal measure.

https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-mary-manchester

Image: Michael Beckwith

St Ann

St Ann's was consecrated in 1712, dedicated to St Anne and honouring its patron, Lady Ann Bland. Designed in Classical style by John Barker, it is Manchester’s third oldest building, its tower marking the historic centre of the city. Built as a Low Church alternative to the Collegiate Church, its interior has evolved over time, with 19th century restorations introducing rich stained glass and a reordered sanctuary. Damaged by wartime bombing, the church has since been beautifully restored and remains a striking landmark in Manchester’s story.

https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-ann-manchester

Image: Dave Morton

Description supplied by the event organiser.