Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats - an area famed for industrial revolution and dominated by cotton factories — is home to Hallé St Peter’s. Built in 1858 St Peter’s was the first Anglican church to be built in a primarily Roman Catholic area, and the semi-circular apse was designed to stand out against the angular factory buildings and rows of flats and houses. It ran as a church for over 100 years, but closed in 1960 after the Ancoats population dwindled, and when the Hallé orchestra claimed ownership of the building it had been abandoned for decades. It was eventually restored and converted, and is now a magnificent space used by the orchestra to rehearse and record, and regularly hosts live performances from both the Hallé and other national orchestras. The Hallé also founded in 1858; the multi-award winning group have performed nationwide and around the world, and through St Peter’s they aim to educate people through the use of classical music. The building itself is also available to hire for weddings, parties and conferences. [Charlotte Davies]