Church of St. Paul, Manchester Road, Walkden Lancashire

Consecrated on 5 August 1848, St Paul’s at Walkden Moor was built largely at the expense of the Earl of Ellesmere and replaced the mission church of St George, built less than ten years before but already considered inadequate for local needs. In August 1847 the Earl’s daughter laid the foundation stone of the new church, reported in The Manchester Guardian of 7 August 1847:

‘The foundation stone of a new church at Walkden Moor near Worsley in the parish of Eccles was laid on Tuesday last. The ceremony was undertaken by Lady Brackley to whom a handsome silver trowel was presented for the purpose. .... We understand that the whole of the expense of the new church will be borne by the Earl of Ellesmere; and that the present church, which is too small for the population, will be converted into a Sunday school.’

Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 August 1847 Page 7 Column 2
Reference    Manchester Courier  7 August 1847 Page 500 Column 7 - identical report