Work completes on first phase of Church of Ascension

The first phase of a £5m project to restore a historic church in Greater Manchester has completed, helping to bring a much-loved community hub back to life.

The Grade II listed Church of Ascension in Salford was destroyed by an arson attack in February 2017. The first phase of completed works have included the reinstatement of the structural elements of the building, such as columns, roof structures and coverings; stone and brick repairs; stained glass windows; and ceiling finishes.

Canon David Wyatt said: “The completion of the first phase of restoration marks a major milestone on our journey to bring the church back to life.

“The arson attack was incredibly upsetting for the community, so to see the hard work being undertaken to restore it to its former glory is truly inspiring.”

Jenny Etheridge, architect at Buttress, added: “We are delighted to reach completion on the first phase of restoration work at Church of Ascension. This church is an important community resource and it’s been a pleasure to work with the PCC and the rest of the team to bring the building back to life.”