Where we are based

The Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester is based in Wilbraham Saint Ninian's United Reformed Church, near to the centre of Chorlton,  Manchester.

Our main worship service is held at 4.30pm each Sunday.

Wilbraham Saint Ninian's is situated at the junction of Wilbraham Road and Egerton Road South in Chorlton.  The church's postcode is M21 0XJ but we suggest you use M21 0UB for map searches and for satnavs.  See the 'X' on the map below.  (You can use the zoom function on your web browser to make the map bigger and see the street names more easily.)

Parking

There is on-road parking along Egerton Road South and Egerton Road North.  We invite visitors displaying a disabled driver badge to park in the limited space along the church frontage but ask other visitors to keep these spaces free for those with mobility issues.

By Metrolink

The Metrolink tram line to Chorlton opened in early July 2011 and offers the easiest journey by public transport to our church from the city centre.  The new South Manchester line connects Victoria Station with Old Trafford, Firswood and Chorlton at present and is due to be extended into Didsbury and the airport in years to come.

Coming from the city centre, you can catch the Metrolink to Chorlton (with trams probably showing the destination 'St Werburgh's Road) at any of these stops:

• Victoria Station
  • (If coming in from Metrolink stops on the Bury line, this is where you can change lines and pick up the Chorlton trams.)
• Shudehill
• Market Street
  • (Note: This line does *not* turn into Piccadilly Gardens and does *not* travel down to Piccadilly Station.  Visitors arriving at Piccadilly Station need to walk up to either Market Street or Mosley Street and connect with the Chorlton line at these stops.  However, if your approach by train to Piccadilly Station includes a stop at Deansgate station, you could take advantage of the footbridge which links Deansgate mainline station with Deansgate/Castlefield tram stop, and so transfer easily from rail line to Metrolink without going the full way into Piccadilly.)
• Mosley Street
• St Peter's Square
• Deansgate/Castlefield (previously GMex)
  • (A footbridge is provided making an easy link between this tram stop and Deansgate mainline station, which frequently serves as a convenience stop for many Piccadilly Station and Oxford Road Station train services.)
• Cornbrook
  • (If coming in from Metrolink stops on the Eccles line, this is where you can change lines and pick up the Chorlton trams.)
• Trafford Bar
  • (If coming in from Metrolink stops on the Altrincham line, this is where you can change lines and pick up the Chorlton trams.)
• Firswood
• CHORLTON - for MCC Manchester
• St Werburgh's Road
  • (Currently the terminus for this line.)

Journey time from the city centre to Chorlton is 15 to 20 minutes. 

On arrival at the Chorlton Metrolink platform, climb the stairs (or take the lift) to the road level and turn left.  As you walk down the  slope of the bridge and pass the Shell petrol station on your left, the church building is coming up on your right, across the road, just a hundred yards or so from the tram station.

Trams run every 12-15 minutes, depending on the time of day and the day of the week.  The Metrolink route map is available here.   Tram times can be checked here.

By bus from the city centre

The most frequent bus service on Sundays into Chorlton is the number 86 which leaves every 10 minutes from stand M in Piccadilly Gardens (located between Piccadilly Plaza and the Metrolink platforms alongside the Gardens). 

The number 85 is slightly less frequent on Sundays, and it takes a slightly different route through the south Manchester suburbs, but it also leaves from stand M in Piccadilly Gardens.  We suggest you catch whichever bus is at the stand when you arrive.

If you arrive in Manchester by train at Piccadilly station, the shortest route to a suitable bus stop would be to walk down the sloping station approach, head for Piccadilly Gardens, and pick up one of the Chorlton buses as described above.

On the 86, book to and alight at Chorlton Cross (the junction of Wilbraham Road and Manchester Road East - see map below).  Walk east along that section of Wilbraham Road which has the Natwest Bank on the north pavement and the Santander Bank on the south pavement.  You will pass the Post Office on your right, continue past Morrisons on your left, over the bridge, past the Shell garage on the left, and the church is on your right just past the short row of shops.

On the 85, book to Morrisons in Chorlton, and you will eventually approach the centre of Chorlton down Alexandra Road (see map below) then along Wilbraham Road - but from the other direction, i.e. you will pass the church on your left just before you reach the bridge near Morrisons, which is where you should alight.

Journey time on both buses is around 20 to 25 minutes, with a 2 minute walk from the 85 and a 5 minute walk from the 86.

Full details of buses and timetables are available at http://www.gmpte.com  but the most practical option is generally to head to stand M and just wait.  You will probably find the bus journey is cheaper if you use a Stagecoach Dayrider ticket, rather than purchasing separate single tickets for your outward and return journeys.

Our hosts

Wilbraham St Ninian's URC has its own website at http://wilbrahamstninians.com/ which is very informative about the church's history and ministry.