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St. Clement's HistoryUrmston was a small rural community with a population of only 730 by the mid 19th century. It was then part of Flixton parish. With the growth of industry and the coming of the railway the population began to grow rapidly and it was recognised that Urmston should have a church of its own. The foundation stone was laid by the first Bishop of Manchester on 16 March 1867 and the building was consecrated just 9 months later. By 1873 the growth in the local population meant that the church needed to be enlarged and after sufficient money was raised, mainly through the proceeds of a four day bazaar, the north Aisle was added increasing the seating from 360 to 552. Building work continued and in 1888 the church was extended to the West providing another 327 seats. The tower was added as a project to mark the turn of the century and by 1906 the tower, bells and clock were all in place. Over the years the building has been adapted to suit modern worship and activities so that it continues to serve the community of Urmston. Christopher Brown
Christopher Brown was the Priest – in – Charge of St. Clement’s Church and parish from March 2000 until April 2010. Previously he was Rector of two parishes outside Bath on the Mendip hills. Christopher found life in Urmston very different with many more people in the parish. He enjoyed the busy-ness of life in the city and especially the fact that food could be delivered to you! He grew up in Cardiff and studied the law and was a solicitor in a country practice in Minehead, Somerset. He often commented that the law and the Church have a great many similarities, not least the concern for people and the working out of difficulties which can engulf us from time to time. He said that being a priest allowed him to take far more time with people and to see them as a whole person, not simply someone with a problem needing legal help. Christopher’s interests outside the Church were listening to music, walking in the country and eating. His chief dislike was dieting, and he did put himself through a sponsored diet to raise money towards out roof restoration appeal. He raised the money but admitted that the weight loss wasn’t quite as successful as he’d hoped. On the same theme he always admired the way in which St. Clement’s celebrates events and said that our catering is second to none! Christopher has moved to be Rector in Radcliffe and a coach full of St Clement’s parishioners went to his Induction on 27th April 2010 to wish him well in his new Parish. Message from Alan TiltmanGreetings to all at St Clement's! I've been asked to contribute a short piece about myself to your new website, so here goes!
I left Urmston in 1999 to become Director of Continuing Ministerial Education for the Diocese, and had four very happy years in that post until the Diocese decided to make a group of us redundant. There then followed an uncertain twelve months until I was invited to move to St Asaph Diocese as Vicar of St Matthew's, Buckley, a small town not far over the border into Wales, and latterly as CME Officer here as well. So I've been at St Matthew's for three years now, and am well settled. I have recently been joined by a lady curate who is an NSM (we don't have OLMs in Wales at the present). Kate now has her own ministry as Reader, and was licensed in Manchester Cathedral in July. David works for a publishing firm in London, while Peter teaches Maths at a school in Manchester. I do hope you are all well, and send our best wishes from Wales! · Alan |
For those of you who don't remember me, I was Vicar of St Clement's from 1986-1999, so it's now over 20 years since I came to join you, and more than eight years since I said farewell. I remember it as a very happy period, when the parish was moving forward in many ways: we updated our liturgy (no doubt that's been done again a few times since!), and built new ministries, both lay and ordained (Cath's ordination as an OLM, though after my time, was a fruit of this period). My children grew up in Urmston, and although David and Peter are now adults with their own lives, they too still have good memories of being there.