Church of St Barnabas Regent Park Morecambe

On 21 July Mrs Foster of Hornby Castle will lay the foundation stone of St Barnabas’s Church, Morecambe. The Bishop of Manchester will be present at the ceremony and afterwards give an address in the Pavilion, Regent Park. The plans, prepared by Messrs Austin and Paley, Lancaster, provide for a church to accommodate 600 persons at a cost of £6,500 without the tower. At present it is proposed to proceed with the chancel, side chapel and three bays of the nave, which will accommodate a little over 400 and cost £3,512, of which sum £2,796 has already been received or promised. The church is intended to provide for the spiritual needs of the West End, where there has been a great increase in the population. It will take the place of the present iron church which was erected eight years ago. [Manchester Guardian 8 July 1898 page 5]

The foundation stone of the new church of St Barnabas at Regent Park, Morecambe, was laid yesterday (Thursday), when the Bishop of Manchester gave an address. [Building News 22 July 1898 Page 121]

CHURCH, MORECAMBE - On the 13th ult. the new Church of St. Barnabas, at the west end of Morecambe, was dedicated by the Bishop of Manchester. The church is from plans prepared by Messrs. Paley & Austin, of Lancaster, and is in the Transitional style. It will consist, when completed, of nave with five bays, 72 feet 6 in. long by 24 feet wide, chancel 35 feet by 24 feet, both nave and chancel being the same height, 43 feet to ridge. The north and south aisles are 18 feet and nit. wide, there is a chapel on the north side opening into the chancel by two arches and having a porch as entrance, and the organ transept is on the north side. The vestries are at the east end, with separate porch. At the west end there will be a tower 20 feet square externally, rising 06 feet to a parapet, with porches on north and south side of same entering the church through the tower arch 32 feet high to apex. The church is lighted by five four-light tracery windows in aisles, east window of six lights, and west window of three lights. The materials used in the construction are—for walls rubble of Heysham stone, with external dressings of Darley Dale stone; for internal facings and dressings flecked red Runcorn stone. The roofs are of pitch-pine, and the chancel stalls, altar rails, and table are of oak. All roofs, except aisles and tower, which are leaded, are covered with Ruabon red tiles. The heating is by low-pressure hot water. The contractor has been Mr. John Edmondson, and the cost of the entire scheme is estimated at about £6,000. The portion now built will cost about £3,500. The sitting accommodation is for 400, but when entirely completed this will be extended so as to afford provision for between 600 and 700. [Builder 4 August 1900 page 112]

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 24 July 1897 Page 4 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 31 July 1897 Page 3 (Contracts)
Reference    Builder 31 July 1897 Page 97
Reference    Academy Architecture 1896 (ii) page 63
Reference    Builder 19 February 1898 p188
Reference    Builder 11 June 1898 Page 571
Reference    Manchester Guardian 8 July 1898 page 5
Reference    Builder 16 July 1898 Page 62 - laying foundation stone.
Reference    Building News 22 July 1898 Page 121
Reference    Builder 4 August 1900 page 112