All Souls’ Church, Every Street, Ancoats, Manchester. Captured by Manchester-based Victorian photographer Helmut Petschler, Photo made 1855 – 1875. Image courtesy of Manchester Libraries CC BY 4.0
The Victorian Society is appalled by the destruction of the former All Souls Church on Every Street in Ancoats, Manchester, demolished on the 5th October 2026 after standing for more than 180 years. For generations, it had been a place of worship and a centre of community life, witnessing some of the most significant moments in the lives of countless local people.
All Souls’ in August 2023. Photo: Mark Watson
The church had been closed for some forty years, and its national architectural and historic importance recognised through listing for almost as long. Yet it had been allowed to deteriorate until demolition was deemed necessary on public safety grounds.
All Souls’ Church, in 1957. Taken by Harry Milligan who was the photographer for Manchester Central Library. Image courtesy of Manchester Libraries CC BY 4.0
The loss is all the more difficult to comprehend given the extraordinary transformation of Ancoats and the surrounding area over the past twenty years or so. Enormous investment has brought new life to this part of Manchester, including the restoration and reuse of numerous historic buildings. Nonetheless, throughout this period, All Souls continued to deteriorate. Why, amid such extensive regeneration, and when the building’s importance and poor state of repair were apparent, was a future never secured for this church?
All Souls’ in 2010. Photo: Bill Boaden CC BY-SA 2.0
Local planning authorities have statutory powers to intervene where buildings are threatened by neglect. What action did Manchester City Council take over the years to protect this building?
There are also serious questions about the decision to demolish it last week. What specialist expertise informed the assessment of its condition? Were alternatives to total demolition properly considered? The evidence on which the decision was taken should be made public.
The demolition of All Souls’ church on 5th October 2026. Photo: SAVE
All Souls is now lost forever, but its destruction must prompt a serious examination of how this happened, and what needs to change to prevent other historic buildings suffering the same fate.
All Souls’ church demolition showing destruction of the stained glass. Photo: SAVE
