Christ Church (Jesse Howarth Memorial Church) Walshaw Bury

INTENDED NEW CHURCH FOR WALSHAW — We are informed that the Reverend J. G. Haworth, Vicar of Trinity Church, Tunstead, has signified his intention to build, at his own cost, a church at Walshaw, near Bury, as a memorial of his uncle, the late Mr. Jesse Haworth, who was during a long and prosperous life closely identified with the industrial interests of that locality, and was instrumental in promoting the material well-being of its inhabitants, and was also the unostentatious supporter of much charitable work in other places. The Earl of Derby, through his agent Mr Statter, has promised to give a suitable site of land for the church and parsonage house. The reverend donor has commissioned Mr. Lawrence Booth, FRIBA, of Manchester, to design the intended structure and to superintend the carrying out of all the necessary works, with plenary instructions to not only provide for the present spiritual wants of the district, but to have in mind also possible future requirements, and to make the new church in. all respects a worthy memorial of the departed. There are already day and Sunday schools in the district, erected about 30 years ago the late Mr. Jesse Haworth, which have very recently been enlarged by him, from the designs and under the direction of Mr. Booth. It is intended that the edifice shall be called The Jesse Haworth Memorial Church." [Manchester Courier 28 June 1887 page 3]

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE - The Reverend J. G. Haworth, Vicar of Trinity Church, Tunstead, has signified his intention to build, at his own cost, a church at Walshaw, near Bury, as a memorial of his uncle, the late Mr. Jesse Haworth, who was during a long and prosperous life closely identified with the industrial interests of that locality, and a generous supporter of charitable works. The Earl of Derby, through his agent Mr Statter, has promised to give a suitable site of land for the church and a parsonage house. Mr Howarth has commissioned Mr. Lawrence Booth, FRIBA, of Manchester, to design the intended structure and to superintend the works. It is intended that the edifice shall be called “The Jesse Howarth Memorial Church. [Manchester Guardian 28 June 1887 page 8]

THE JESSE HOWARTH MEMORIAL CHURCH – Persons desirous of Tendering for the whole or any portion of the several works required in the erection and completion of the above on a site of land situate at Walshaw, near Bury, are requested to make written application for schedule of quantities to the undersigned on or before 11 April. Plans and specifications to be seen and other particulars obtained on or after 18 April at the office of the architect. Sealed tenders to be delivered to the Rev J G Howarth at Tunstead Vicarage, Tunstead, on or before 30 April. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. Lawrence Booth, architect, 28 Faulkner Street, Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 7 April 1888 Page 4]

CONSECTRATION OF CHRIST CHURCH WALSHAW – This church was consecrated yesterday by the Bishop of Manchester, and has been built and endowed at the joint expense of Miss Nancy Howarth of Walshaw, and the Rev John Gorrell Howarth of Higher Crumpsall, as a memorial to the late Jesse Howarth of Walshaw. Lord Derby has given the site on which the church has been built, and also sites for schools and vicarage house. The church is in the style known as Geometrical Gothic, and the principal external feature is a tower at the south-east corner, surmounted by a spire rising to 160 feet. The interior consists of a nave, two transepts, chancel, memorial chapel, clergy vestry under the tower, and choir vestry under the organ chamber, and there are ten memorial windows. The architects are Messrs Booth and Chadwick of this city; and Messrs Young and Son have supplied the organ. The total cost is about £25,000. [Manchester Guardian 18 February 1892 page 4]

Named prominently on the west front the Jesse Howarth Memorial Church. The Howarths were cotton spinners and fustian makers, and two of them paid for the church. The church is indeed a demonstration of liberality. Laurence Booth designed it in 1888, and he rose to the occasion. He also rose to the capabilities of the site on the hill and composed an admirable steeple for the SE end of the church to be visible from the town below to the E. The church is large and the nave as wide as in the preaching houses of Nonconformists. Jesse Haworth indeed held evangelical views. The aisles are mere passages, the arcade piers just granite columns with shaft‑rings. There are broad transepts the width of two arcade arches. The arcade continues, but instead of one column there are two set in depth, both with rings. To the outside the aisles have four small cross‑gables. The windows are Gothic but have un‑Gothic transoms. FONT. Circular and encrusted with stiff‑leaf. [Pevsner: South Lancashire: Page 101]

Reference    Manchester Courier 28 June 1887 page 3
Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 April 1888 Page 4 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 18 February 1892 page 4]
Reference    Pevsner:  Buildings of England, South Lancashire: 1969. Page 101
Reference    Dobbs: Like a Mighty Tortoise