On 3 February 2026, new lighting was switched on at the west front and inside the bell tower, highlighting the historic crucifixion scene — Christ on the Cross with Our Lady and St John — first installed when the tower was completed in 1928. Visible from trains at Manchester Piccadilly station and across Oxford Road, the lighting revives a feature that had long been hidden after dark, offering a striking new landmark for students, staff, and city residents alike.
Fr Dushan Croos SJ, Lead Chaplain for the Universities in Manchester and the Holy Name Church, described the project as a renewed sign of the church’s presence in the heart of university life:
“The lighting of the tower and the restoration of the bells are a visible and audible part of a much larger project to protect the structure of the church… which continues to offer hope and peace to the students and people of Manchester."
The lighting forms the latest phase of a multi-year conservation programme. The tower had been listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register due to structural wear and water damage. Repairs to concrete beams and ceilings now safeguard the roof and the historic 2,500-pipe William Hill organ, and the fifteen bells (restored after more than a decade of silence) once again sound across Oxford Road.
Earlier phases of the restoration revealed rarely seen architectural details on the west façade, highlighting the church’s Grade I heritage status, and were supported by grants from the National Churches Trust and other donors.
Serving as the Catholic chaplaincy for Manchester’s universities, Holy Name remains a hub for students and staff, offering Masses, music, and cultural events. The newly illuminated tower acts as a literal and symbolic beacon, welcoming all who pass by and reinforcing the church’s presence at the heart of the city.
You can find out more about the Manchester Universities' Catholic Chaplaincy (MUCC) by clicking here.
