Inner-city church gets £100,000

Grant boost for inner-city church

A church built for Greater Manchester's growing Greek community in the 19th Century is to receive £100,000 for urgent repairs.

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, in Salford, serves a large congregation including Greek students and short-term residents.

It is one of a small number of neo-classical churches to have survived in the area, English Heritage said.

Eleven other churches in Greater Manchester have also been given grants.

The Greek Orthodox church, in the inner city area of Higher Broughton, was built between 1860 and 1861 for Greek merchants in the city.

The money will help pay for work to renew slating and lead work and repair stonework on the building's west portico.

Further grants

Part of the roof has collapsed, leaving a hole where water has entered and damaged the ceiling.

George Levendi, who attends the church on Bury New Road, said the community had also raised £50,000 towards the repair bill.

"It's an excellent building and we would like to restore it to its former glory. We want to pass it to the next generation in good condition," he told the BBC.

Mr Levendi said there was an estimated Greek population of 2,500 in Greater Manchester, and the church was a popular centre of the community.

"There's probably an average of 150 to 200 people attending every Sunday, so it is well visited," he added.

Grants totalling almost £2m from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund have been given to churches in Greater Manchester.

The Grade II-listed Alderley Edge Methodist Church in Cheshire has also received a grant of £323,000.

Corroding ironwork and splitting masonry in the church tower and spire will be repaired with the cash, as well as the clock face.