I got the tram down to Didsbury Village, and as I got out of the tram station there was Didsbury Baptist Church in front of me, so I called in. The welcome was not over-friendly but I got a free cup of coffee; also the building is not particularly special.
I then set out to go to Emmanuel Church, and on the way called in at Didsbury Library. There I was totally ignored. The only thing I could see about Heritage Open Days was a display with the Didsbury Open Doors leaflet. I did discover that the recital at St James's Church on Thursday was music from the coronations; had I known that at the time I would have gone to it.
Just round the corner was the aim of my trip - Emmanuel Church. It was shut! Not open as claimed, because, I learnt, they had not enough staff to run it. Big disappointed. Instead I headed towards St Chad's Church, Ladybarn. Here I got a very nice welcome, and they seemed pleased that a visitor from North Manchester had come to visit them.
They have a community garden which is designed to attract bees. I bought a loaf of bread and a fruit cake from here. I asked one of the stewards the best way to get to St Nicholas church in Burnage and she offered to drive me there. I thanked her, but decided to continue on foot and by bus. St Nicholas Church is not an attractive building, but again I got a friendly welcome.
My next port of call was a building I had wanted to visit for some while, Nazarene College in Didsbury. This has in previous years only been open on the Sunday, so a Saturday opening made it a must visit place. It certainly did not disappoint, and the building used is really lovely.
I then decided I would visit Droylsden and Clayton. I found my way to West Didsbury tram station and encountered the "open day" at Lapwing Lane Arcade - really just a stall selling raffle tickets and a chance to sponsor glass panes in the Arcade. Not really much interest there.
I had to drop Droylsden and Clayton from my agenda due to missing at tram connection by minutes, and the next tram being 28 minutes later. Instead I went on the Crumpsall and visited St Matthew's Church. I must have passed this building hundreds of times since I moved to Manchester, but this was my first chance to look inside.
The welcome was friendly, though the church is fairly nondescript. I went into the church hall and was entertained by the Crumpsall Concert Band, and had a free cup of coffee and a cream scone. I then caught the 118 bus home and got ready to go to the dance at Brighouse that evening.
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