Church of St Luke Chorley Old Road Halliwell Bolton

The conventional district of St Luke’s, which is part of the township of Halliwell, adjoining the western boundary of Little Bolton, comprises Brownlow Fold Mortfield, Vallet’s Buildings, Cook’s, Halliwell Lodge and a portion of Shipton’s Estate and contained 2,400 inhabitants in 1867. Since that time, in consequence of the extension of cotton and other manufacturing works, and the erection of new houses, which were tenanted immediately on completion, the number of inhabitants has, it is estimated, been increased to at least 3,000, putting aside the fact that not less than 1,500 inhabitants reside in that portion of Little Bolton immediately adjoining. In addition to this, a great many more houses are to be built as soon as practicable in St Luke’s district which, when tenanted, it is calculated will nearly double the present population of the district. Ten years ago the Vicar of St Peter’s was enabled to erect a boys and girls school, with master’s residence at an expense of some £2,000. One room of this building, which is to the left of Chorley Old Road and is known as “Victory School,” was licensed for divine service. It must, however, be apparent that this one room cannot accommodate a tithe even of the inhabitants of the district, and hence the absolute necessity of the present effort to obtain a new and commodious church. Messrs J M and H Taylor, the eminent ecclesiastical architects of Manchester have prepared drawings of an edifice which is intended to seat 800 people, the cost of which will be about £5,000, including the estimated value of the site, but exclusive of the tower, which, if required, may be built at any future time at a cost of £1,000. [Bolton Evening News 23 April 1869 page 3].

LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, HALLIWELL - On Saturday last, at three o'clock, the cornerstone was laid by Peter Ainsworth, Esq, Smithhills Hall.  …. The site which has been generously given by the Messrs Musgrave, cotton spinners (who are connected with the Methodist society), and Mr Lowndes, of Wallasey, and the value which is estimated at about £400, is by the side of Chorley Old Road. It is on rising ground, and is well adapted for its purpose. The architects of the new church are Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor, of Manchester, and the contractors are Messrs J. Robinson and Son, of Hyde. The foundations, which had to unusually deep, owing to the site proving to filled-in pit, were in by Isaac Pilling and Son. The ground slopes considerably from the west the east, so that much additional height and dignity will.be given thereby to the eastern end the building. The church, as may now be seen from the work already executed, departs but little in outline from a simple parallelogram, terminating at the end with three semi-circular apses. This parallelogram will be divided into three—longitudinally by two rows of arches (13 in all), and transversely by three arches. The north aisle will be shortened the tower porch, which is placed at its western end. The south aisle will be lengthened so project beyond the nave, and the part thus projecting will contain the font The building materials are mainly those the district, bat they are to be disposed and treated manner quite new in this neighbourhood. The walls are to be hard rubble stone, carefully selected and pointed, while the angles and window frames, etc., are to be principally red brick, disposed in such manner quite to take away from the rubble walls the common rough unfinished appearance they, as ordinarily built, present There will also be good deal of dressed ashlar stone work in the tracery of the windows and elsewhere. The church will be well lighted, as there will be not less than 76 windows, none them very small, but some of large size. Internally, the church will lofty and spacious—-surprisingly so, indeed—if the sum to expended be borne in mind, together with the thickness of the walls and the otherwise exceedingly substantial character of the building, and the accommodation which will be provided. Eight hundred persons will be comfortably seated without galleries. A good bell, vestry fittings, heating apparatus, gas fittings, pulpit, and font will all provided; so that when the church is delivered up by the contractors, it will be found fit for service.  The cost of the building, including spire, will be about £6,000. It is not intended, however, to construct the spire at present. [Bolton Evening News, Monday 8 November 1869 page 3]

HALLIWELL - The opening of St Luke’s Church as a chapel-of-ease to St Peter’s, Halliwell, took place on Sunday week. The church is situated on the western side of Bolton, on Chorley Old-road. The church has a lofty apsidal chancel, with belfry over the chancel arch. The tower is not yet completed. The walls are mainly built of the rough rubble stone of the district, with quoins, arches, string-courses etc of red stock brick. Dressed ashlar is used in the heads and sills of the windows, and for tracery, cusping etc. The roof is slated in bands and patterns of two colours, purple and green. The north-eastern view is the principal one. It takes in the three eastern apses, the gabled chancel aisle, the north aisle wall, the lofty clerestory,  and the main north door. At the extreme south-west corner, and projecting to the west, is the baptistry, covered by a steep-pitched quadrilateral roof. The main entrance is by the north-western porch, the southern door of which opens directly into the nave, which is broad, lofty, and of five bays. The northern aisle has four bays and the southern five. The font is placed at the west end of the south aisle. The colouring of the walls internally is in two tints, in many places divided by a line of red brick. The ceilings between the stained roof timbers are coloured a pale grey tint. There are open wood parcloses or screens between the chancel and chancel aisles. The chancel stalls are of pitch pine and walnut. The large apse window is filled with painted glass by Messrs Lavers, Barraud and Westlake. The baptistry windows are also by the same firm. The glazing generally is in varied patterns of the architect’s design. The pews are of pitch pine. The heating apparatus is by Messrs Haden. The church will accommodate 800 persons. The contract, which was taken by Messrs Robinson and Son, of Hyde, amounts to about £4,200. The architects are Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor of Manchester. [Building News 6 October 1871 Page 258]

Reference    Bolton Evening News, 23 April 1869 page 3
Reference    Bolton Evening News, 20 May 1869 page 1 - contracts
Reference    Bolton Evening News, Monday 8 November 1869 page 3
Reference    Building News 6 October 1871 Page 258
Reference    Pevsner: South Lancashire page 87