Church of St. Elizabeth Bolton Road Aspull Wigan

WIGAN —The foundation stone of a new church was laid at Aspull Moor, a thickly populated district about three miles from Wigan, on Wednesday. The architects are Messrs. M. and H. Taylor of Manchester.  The plan comprises a broad nave and chancel of nearly equal width. There is a south chancel aisle divided into organ-chamber and sacristy for the clergy and choir. The nave is to have at first only a south aisle, preparation being made for a future north aisle, enlarged to the north at eastern bay, and worked in with a north transept to the chancel.  so as make a square-shaped chapel, with central pillar from which four arches spring.  At the western point of the nave the arcade is continued across the end. One of the two western arches opens into a baptistry, the other into a south-west porch, the porch and baptistry together forming the narthex. In the main west. gable above, is a large rose window.  The east chancel window is of three broad lights, and is kept high up in the gable so as to give ample reredos below the sill. On the north side of the sanctuary (the floor of which is raised eight or nine steps in all) are credence and piscina and on the south triple sedilias. The chancel arch is very broad and open. There is a dwarf screen wall under it, on which, on the south side, stands the lectern, and on the north, projecting from it, is the pulpit. The belfry will on the gable over the chancel arch. The church is to be built mainly of brick—red brick, with stone dressings on the outside. and red brick relieved with white inside. The accommodation to begin with will be for about 450, and when the north aisles are added the church will accommodate 740 worshippers. The builder is Mr W Winward of Wigan, the amount of the contract being £6,000. [Building News 8 September 1876 page 244]

The Bishop of Liverpool yesterday afternoon consecrated the new church of St Elizabeth Aspull Moor near Wigan. With the exception of a contribution of £1200 from the late Lord Crawford, the new church has been built at the sole expense of Mr Roger Leigh, who has also built schools and intends to erect a parsonage house. The architects are Messrs M and H Taylor, Manchester. The total cost of the church has been about £6,000. [Manchester Guardian 2 November 1882 page 5]

It gives seating accommodation at present for 450 persons, and when the north aisles are added, for 740. [Manchester Courier 2 November 1882 page 8]

Reference    Building News 8 September 1876 page 244
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 November 1882 page 5 – consecration
Reference    Manchester Courier 2 November 1882 page 8
Reference    ICBS 08007; New Church, Grant : Approved