Christ Church, Blackburn Road, Walmsley, Egerton
Not to be confused with Christ Church, Walmersley, Bury
Christ Church was built of sandstone from the local Cox Green Quarry with ashlar dressings and a slate roof. Its original plan comprised a west tower, six-bay nave, with a clerestory, north and south aisles, south porch, and a short one-bay chancel. The tower is in three stages, separated by string courses. There are twin lancet windows in the lower stage, single lancets in the middle stage and stepped lancets in the top stage containing louvred bell openings. The plain parapet is corbelled, and corner buttresses rise to a pinnacle at each corner. The church provided seating for 512 people and It was the first substantial church with aisles to be designed by Sharpe. It was consecrated on 3 October 1839 by Rt Rev John Bird Sumner, then the Bishop of Chester.
Chancel extended (?) Organ and Choir Gallery added 1843. Chancel, Organ Chamber, Vicar's Vestry and double transepts with decorated tracery were added in 1867 to the design of Edward Paley, Lancaster. [qv] Sharpe may also have been responsible for the Vicarage and National Schools shown on the OS map of 1848.
TO BUILDERS AND OTHERS. TO BE LET BY TENDER – The Mason’s Excavator’s, joiner’s, Carpenter’s Plasterer’s. Slater’s Plumber’s, Glazier’s and Painter’s Work to be done in the erection of a New Church at Turton, in the Parish of Bolton. The plans and specifications may be seen at the Globe Inn in Turton, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the 22nd,23rd and 24 June, and the Tenders to be sent in on Friday 7 July to Mr Sharpe, Architect, Lancaster. [Blackburn Standard 21 June 1837 page 1]
CONSECRATION OF WALMSLEY CHURCH – On Thursday last, the new church at Walmsley was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. … Thy church which has been erected of stone, is a neat edifice, built in the Gothic style. Its situation is truly beautiful, being upon an eminence and commanding a variegated and extensive view in the vale beneath and on the rugged moors above. The old chapel from the increase of population in the neighbourhood was to be incapable of affording sufficient room and therefor it was that the gentlemen residing in the neighbourhood commenced a subscription. In addition, the ICBS and Chester Diocesan Society each made a grant of £300. By these means they were enabled to build a new church containing 665 sittings, 250 of which were declared free and unappropriated for ever
This Church, which has been built to the designs and under the superintendence of Edmund Sharpe Esq, architect, and has cost £2,700, is in the style of architecture which prevailed during the early part of the thirteenth century. It contains a nave with side aisles, clerestory, tower, chancel and south porch. The aisles are divided from the nave by neat clustered columns, with Early English capitals and arches. The columns are of single stones taken from the quarries above Dunscar; the capitals are also of stone. The interior view of the church, as seen from the tower at the west end, is very striking, exhibiting as it does, a modern church possessing all the characteristic features of the ancient buildings, without the presence of modern galleries. The execution of the whole of the work is such as to reflect the highest credit on the workmen employed; and the substantial and durable character of the work not less than the ecclesiastical propriety of its appearance, entitles it to be considered as a favourable specimen of the attempt which has been made by the friends of the church to rival the pious munificence of their forefathers. [Bolton Chronicle 5 October 1839 page 3]
WALMSLEY - The next day witnessed the consecration of a new church at Walmsley, in the chapelry of Turton. It is built of stone, and the architect is Mr. Sharpe of Lancaster, who has here produced a work which would be an ornament to any neighbourhood, and may satisfy the most fastidious taste. The style is that which is commonly called decorated English. A well-proportioned tower, side-aisles, and clerestory, give the church a commanding character, well suited to the eminence on which it is placed. The cost has been £2,600, and the present number of sittings is 635. There are no galleries as yet erected; but the accommodation which may be gained by introducing them will diminish materially that apparent cost of erection, which on the present comparison seems high, in reference to the number of sittings. This circumstance induced the Diocesan Society to withhold a grant for some time, till on satisfaction being given as to the discretion with which the plan had been determined on, the sum of £800. was voted to defray the general expenses. The Incorporated Society had made a previous grant of £350. This church has been built to supersede an old inconvenient edifice, which was in a very dilapidated condition, and has in consequence its minister and endowment provided. The collection after the bishop's sermon here was £113. [Church of England Magazine Volume VIII January-June 1840, page 69-72]
Reference Blackburn Standard 14 June 1837 page 1 -contracts
Reference Blackburn Standard 21 June 1837 page 1 -contracts
Reference Bolton Chronicle 24 June 1837 page 1 – contracts
Reference Bolton Chronicle 5 October 1839 page 3 - consecration
Reference Church of England Magazine Volume VIII January-June 1840, page 69-72
Reference Manchester Guardian 14 June 1837 page 1 - contracts
Reference Manchester Guardian 17 June 1837 page 4 -contracts