Church of St Stephen Manchester Road Kearsley Moor Bolton

Decorated. The crotchetty side of the Taylors' oeuvre comes out less in the church (bell‑openings of the tower) than in the parsonage.  One ought to look at the gable, its shape and its rose window, but there are plenty of other roguish touches. (Pevsner)

KEARSLEY - The first steps towards the erection of the new church of St Stephen, Kearsley Moor, Farnworth, were taken last week, when the ground was marked out. The excavations for the foundation will be commenced in a few days. The site adjoins the school‑room on the Manchester‑road. The church will be erected from a design by Messrs Henry and Medland Taylor, architects, Manchester; Messrs Ellis and Hinchliffe, of Manchester, being the contractors. The style chosen is Decorated Gothic, and the church will comprise, nave, aisle, chancel, vestry, organ chamber, and a tower at the west end of the nave. [Building News 8 July 1870 Page 31]

CONSECRATION OF A NEW CHURCH AT KEARSLEY – The new church of St Stephen, Kearsley Moor, was consecrated on Saturday by the Bishop of Manchester. It is several years since the church was first projected, and four or five since the designs were made; but difficulties mainly connected with the site, have until lately delayed the erection of the building. The work which her late husband began has been taken up by Mrs Harrison Blair, and in October the memorial stone was laid. Since that time the erection of the structure has progressed rapidly, and though it was only February when the tower and boundary walls were added to the contract, the whole work was completed on the day originally named. Accommodation is provided for 500 persons, and all the sittings will be free. The site lies almost half way between Manchester and Bolton, close to the turnpike road, and, as the church stands high, it is well seen from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Its plan consists of a nave 67 feet long by 24 feet wide, and a north aisle the same length by 20 feet wide; and the design also comprises a south aisle, not yet built. The tower, which is upwards of 60 feet high, is built as a memorial to the late Mr Stephen Blair by his four nieces, and bears an inscription to that effect carved upon a marble tablet set in a framework of moulded stone, the gift of Mr Hinchliffe. The architectural style of the church is what is known as well-developed decorated. The principal entrance is by a porch projecting from the side of the north aisle. This has a well-proportioned doorway with shafted jambs, also a moulded and carved arch. The font stands at the west end of the north aisle just under a handsome three-light traceried window, and is the gift of Miss Ley. Over its carved bowl is a pyramidal cover, suspended by means of an iron crane from the roof. The inner stonework is white and red, an intermixture of colour which adds pleasant warmth of effect to the interior. The pulpit, which is the gift of Mr John Fletcher, is handsomely carved and ornamented with marble pillars, besides which its panelled sides contain pierced tracery work. The reredos, an elegant one, is the same length as the communion table, viz eight feet; and the other details have also been tastefully attended to, including the inscriptions of numerous appropriate texts in conspicuous places. The south-east window of the nave is of stained glass, and is the gift of the workpeople of the late Mr Harrison Blair. The school children have given another stained glass window in the chancel, and there is a third, presented by the Rev Charles Lowe, incumbent of the church and Mr Warburton. The east chancel window contains a representation of St Stephen, with the martyrs crown and other devices. Within the north porch is a carved oak alms box, presented by Miss Ellen Blair. The cost of the body of the church has been £3,000, and of the tower £660. The contract was taken by Messrs Ellis and Hinchliffe, and the work has been carried out under the superintendence of the architects, Messrs Medland and H Taylor, of Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 3 July 1871 page 3].

Reference    Building News 8 July 1870 Page 31
Reference    Manchester Courier Friday 1 July 1870 Page3 Column 4- First sod cut
Reference    Builder 5 November 1870 Page 891
Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 July 1871 page 3 - consecration
Reference    Building News 7 July 1871 Page 15 - consecration
Reference    Pevsner: Lancashire: South