About Us
Who We Are
Founded in 1894, Union Hall is within walking distance of the city centre, the University of Manchester campuses, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Commonwealth Pool. Our desire is to reach out to the local community and to be a support to the student population.
We are brought together by our faith in Jesus Christ. We believe Him to be God’s only Son, and our personal Saviour and Lord, and through Him we have found not only a new relationship with God, but also strength and real purpose for daily living.
Teaching from the Word of God is the central focus of our Sunday worship which includes a mix of old and new hymns and worship songs. We have a multi-cultural, all-ages congregation with family friendly Sunday morning services which include Sunday School and a crèche. Midweek children’s clubs are provided along with student hospitality, opportunity for midweek prayer and group Bible study.
We hope you will use the links on this site to learn more about the church, our activities and most importantly the faith that we have in Jesus Christ.
We are affiliated members of both networks.
Pastor & Elders
Adam Beattie
Pastor
Adam became a Christian whilst a student after spending over 3 years trying to ignore the claims of Jesus Christ. When he finally stopped running and turned to trust in Christ his only regret was that he hadn’t done it sooner!
Whilst studying Engineering in Manchester he became a member of Union Hall. After his studies, life took him to various places, including working with UCCF in Cumbria, studying at theological college in South Africa and ministering as an assistant Pastor in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. But Manchester always felt like home, and he carried fond memories of the wonderfully diverse fellowship at Union Hall. In September 2018, 12 years after moving away from the city, Adam was called back to Union Hall as their Pastor. Adam is married to Ashleigh, and they have two young children who keep them very busy!
Among other things, Adam enjoys eating Pizza, fixing stuff, music from the eighties and talking about old cars.
Shalom Srirangam
Church Elder
Shalom had the privilege of being brought up in a Christian home in India and came to put his trust in the Lord Jesus in his teenage years. He first attended Union Hall as a student in the early 90s – and has stayed ever since. He and his wife, Esther, got married here and both their children grew up at Union Hall.
Shalom has worked for the NHS in Manchester and Lancashire since graduating. If he has any free time, it is largely spent taxiing his children around, perfecting the garden hedge, or following the fluctuating fortunes of Liverpool FC (Premier League Champions in 2020!) and the Indian cricket team from the sofa.
Church History
In the 1880’s the world-renowned preacher Dr. Alexander McLaren was drawing great crowds of listeners to Union Chapel, Oxford Road, Manchester.
Amongst the Chapel’s activities was a Christian Endeavour Society, and the young people of the Society’s Home Missionary Committee were looking for opportunities of service which would be honouring to the Lord. The young people, under the ministry of Dr. McLaren were given the vision of a great need and after much prayer were given a burden for the district of Hulme.
The young people were led to a cottage in Sheffield Street, where a godly woman, Mrs. Hooley, opened her door for Sunday evening Gospel services. Meetings, although very crowded, continued here until 1902, with occasional temporary use of a disused public house and a laundry to accommodate growing numbers. At the end of 1902, a room above a Smithy in Canning Street was obtained, and the adult work transferred from the cottage on 1st February 1903. Such were the beginnings of Union Hall.