In the past the parish of St Cross and surrounding area has depended upon the chemical and manufacturing industries which have now largely disappeared. The area now faces issues of deprivation. The parish St Cross Church rates as being one of the 10% most deprived in respect of 5 poverty indicators and one of the 50% most deprived in respect of the other 5.
In light of this, in 2004 St Cross renewed its commitment to raising community issues at its PCC meetings and to develop partnerships with other service providers who were engaged in tackling the effects of deprivation. In 2004 the Rector of St Cross, Revd Matthew Thompson, initiated an informal partnership with the Wells Centre and her offered the church centre as a venue for their spill-over work. The Wells Centre offers a wide range of support services such as a health clinic for the under 5s, school readiness courses, parenting skills, cooking classes, a work club, parent-toddler sessions and ESOL classes . It also offers exercise classes for adults , an after school art club, some mental health provision, pre-employment courses, as well as practical, emotional and financial support to families experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation.
In 2008 St Cross became increasingly aware of the isolation experienced by some of the elderly residents living in the parish. When planning Summer Fairs, St Cross was careful to avoid days when the Barrington Street Social Club ran excursions for the elderly and in 2008 the PCC cited Zest as a possible partnering agency to work with the elderly.
In 2004 the PCC began to explore the possibility of strengthening the relationship between the churches in Clayton including the Clayton Christian Fellowship at Barrington Street, St Willibrord's and Seymour Road Methodist Church and it was felt that this could best be achieved by working together on a Social Action project. Some five years later, in 2009, talks began at PCC level about the development of a community centre. In 2013 the Rector of St Cross approached the diocese about the setting up of a Food Bank. In 2017 work to bring plans for the development of a food bank and community hub began to take shape.
The current Rector, Revd Chris Moore along with several others from St Willibrord's and Seymour Road Methodist Church worked with Manchester City Council, One Manchester and Healthy Me Healthy Communities (HMHC) to take on the reopening and running of a local community centre (131 Barrington Street, Manchester M11 4FB) via an ‘asset-transfer’. The long-term vision for the community centre was ambitious as it attempted to address many of the effects of deprivation that the PCC of St Cross have been aware of for many years. In 2018 the centre w
St Cross has always strived to support charities, both local and international whether on a quarterly or yearly basis. Over the years St Cross has supported the following charities:- Booth Hall, Wood Street Mission, Autistic Society, St Ann’s Hospice, Francis House, Hope Africa, Lifeboats, Donkey Sanctuary,Guide Dogs for the Blind, UNICEF, LIFESHARE, CHRISTIAN AID or local charity like Emmaus, Shalom Happy Home, Humanitarian Aid, Church Urban Fund
In light of this, in 2004 St Cross renewed its commitment to raising community issues at its PCC meetings and to develop partnerships with other service providers who were engaged in tackling the effects of deprivation. In 2004 the Rector of St Cross, Revd Matthew Thompson, initiated an informal partnership with the Wells Centre and her offered the church centre as a venue for their spill-over work. The Wells Centre offers a wide range of support services such as a health clinic for the under 5s, school readiness courses, parenting skills, cooking classes, a work club, parent-toddler sessions and ESOL classes . It also offers exercise classes for adults , an after school art club, some mental health provision, pre-employment courses, as well as practical, emotional and financial support to families experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation.
In 2008 St Cross became increasingly aware of the isolation experienced by some of the elderly residents living in the parish. When planning Summer Fairs, St Cross was careful to avoid days when the Barrington Street Social Club ran excursions for the elderly and in 2008 the PCC cited Zest as a possible partnering agency to work with the elderly.
In 2004 the PCC began to explore the possibility of strengthening the relationship between the churches in Clayton including the Clayton Christian Fellowship at Barrington Street, St Willibrord's and Seymour Road Methodist Church and it was felt that this could best be achieved by working together on a Social Action project. Some five years later, in 2009, talks began at PCC level about the development of a community centre. In 2013 the Rector of St Cross approached the diocese about the setting up of a Food Bank. In 2017 work to bring plans for the development of a food bank and community hub began to take shape.
The current Rector, Revd Chris Moore along with several others from St Willibrord's and Seymour Road Methodist Church worked with Manchester City Council, One Manchester and Healthy Me Healthy Communities (HMHC) to take on the reopening and running of a local community centre (131 Barrington Street, Manchester M11 4FB) via an ‘asset-transfer’. The long-term vision for the community centre was ambitious as it attempted to address many of the effects of deprivation that the PCC of St Cross have been aware of for many years. In 2018 the centre w
St Cross has always strived to support charities, both local and international whether on a quarterly or yearly basis. Over the years St Cross has supported the following charities:- Booth Hall, Wood Street Mission, Autistic Society, St Ann’s Hospice, Francis House, Hope Africa, Lifeboats, Donkey Sanctuary,Guide Dogs for the Blind, UNICEF, LIFESHARE, CHRISTIAN AID or local charity like Emmaus, Shalom Happy Home, Humanitarian Aid, Church Urban Fund
