Church of St John the Baptist (RC) Dowling Street Rochdale

The church stands on an open site immediately opposite Rochdale Station on one corner of the main square. The general construction is of concrete stanchions carried directly up from the massed foundations under the four piers supporting the dome. These stanchions form a monolithic mass over the main span of the dome, which is carried on four pendentives. The thickness of the dome at the top is 4.5 inches only, increasing to 5 inches at the haunch. The building is faced with local pressed brick, small size, with white mortar pointing and Empire Portland stone dressings. The structural part of the work has been carried out under the supervision of Mr G Bernard Green AMInstCE of London, who also acted in the capacity of consultant engineer for this portion of the work. The total cost of the building was just over £20,000, which represents a very low cost per cubic foot. The architect responsible for the design and erection of the work was Mr E Bower Norris FRIBA of the firm Hill, Sandy & Norris of London, Stafford and Manchester.

Plan illustrated in the Builder is dated January 1923, Hill Sandy & Norris of Manchester Birmingham and Stafford

St John's Rochdale (29 April) Reinforced concrete and "Empire" stone dressings were the work of the Empire Stone Company Limited. Thanet House 231 Strand London WC2.[Builder 20 May 1927 Page 834]

 ST JOHN’S CHURCH ROCHDALE The Roman Catholic Church, which was opened in Rochdale on Sunday. The architect is Mr E Bower Norris of Manchester. The building is of concrete faced with brickwork. The dome is 68 feet in diameter. It is hoped to build a campanile when further funds have been raised. [Manchester Guardian 16 June 1925 page 9 - caption to illustrations]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 16 June 1925 page 9 - illustrations
Reference    Builder 29 April 1927 Page 683 and 688 with illustrations
Reference    Builder 20 May 1927 Page 834 - Empire Stone
Reference    J A Hilton; The Artifice of Eternity