Church of St Edmund, Falinge, Greater Manchester

Address:
Edmund St, Rochdale , Greater Manchester, OL12 6QF
How to find us
Opening times:
Opened first and third Saturday of the month 10am - 4pm. For further information please contact Mark Sproat via email [email protected]
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A Gothic gem set in a diamond

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Rochdale the extraordinary church of St Edmund's may look like many other Victorian parish churches. On closer inspection it reveals a fascinating blend of gothic revival architecture and Masonic symbolism.

Described by Pevsner as “Rochdale's Temple to Freemasonry”, this fascinating building was created for wealthy Victorian industrialist and Freemason Albert Hudson Royds in 1870-3 by the Architects James Medland and Henry Taylor.

The symbolism goes beyond architecture to the very position of the church in the Rochdale landscape. Sitting in a diamond shaped churchyard at the highest point in the town it is making an overt reference to the Temple which dominated Jerusalem - casting Rochdale as the New Jerusalem.

Our churches cost on average, £2500 per year, to keep them clean, conservation work, maintenance checks and in a safe condition for visitors to come and enjoy.

Please help us to keep our churches open by donating a gift of £5 or £10 by texting the numbers below or visit our donation page here

Text  FAL to 70970 to give £5

Text  FAL to 70191 to give £10

Your generous donation will help us to protect a beautiful part of local and national heritage. Thank you!