In 1907 Rev. Austin Nelson was appointed curate, and as the church finances were more stable, the curatage was, for the first time, used for the purpose for which it was built. Austin Nelson worked very hard in the parish, and St. Cuthbert's developed even further. The original chapel became more like a church with the addition of a lecturn and font in 1907. A 1day -2day a week scheme was started to provide funds to pay for the Iron Mission Rooms which had recently been erected between the church and the curatage. Mr. Arrowsmith (the father of John Arrowsmith of Gatley) was warden and tresurer of the scheme.

Fully Established Church
A bazaar was held in the Parish Rooms (Ashfield Road) in February 1908 at which the Rector spoke of St Cuthbert's as now a "fully established Church" and ambitious plans were unveiled to enlarge the building to seat 300 and widen the aisle. The Rector also praised the efforts of the Curate and it seems that it was envisaged that sometime in the near future St. Cuthbert's would become an independent parish.

However, finances and circumstances prevented this. In November 1908, Austin Nelson had a nervous breakdown and was given leave to take a long rest. He never returned to his work. St. Cuthbert's was without a curate and neither it nor St. Mary's could afford another one. The curatage was let out again; a clerk, William Patterson, lived there.

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