OS grid reference SJ 85729 95702 Functional status Active | Country England Heritage designation Grade I | |
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The Edgar Wood Centre is a former Church of Christ, Scientist building in Fallowfield, Manchester, England. Pevsner considered it "the only religious building in Lancashire that would be indispensable in a survey of twentieth century church design in all England." It is a Grade I listed building, and on the Register of Buildings at Risk maintained by Historic England.
History
The building was designed by the architect Edgar Wood for the Christian Scientists' first church in Britain. Construction began in 1903–4. A shortage of space and money led to modifications to the design, and further work took place in 1905–7.
Pevsner described the church as "one of the most original buildings of that time in England, or indeed anywhere." The church was decorated by bronze lettering of parts of the Bible and works by Mary Baker Eddy, an Arabic organ screen, and chairs designed by Wood.
The church closed in 1971 and was heavily vandalised before reopening as the Edgar Wood Centre in 1975. In turn, this closed in 2003, and the building is currently used as a Universal Church of the Kingdom of God centre. It was placed on the English Heritage Register of Buildings at Risk 2007, but is no longer listed as "At Risk." The church is a Grade I listed building as of 18 December 1963. Most of the furnishings and stained glass have been removed.