Church of St. Werburgh, Warburton

The new church of St. Werburgh, at Warburton, built from the designs of Mr. John Douglas, of Chester, will be consecrated on Tuesday week. It is Early Perpendicular in style, is built of red Runcorn stone, and roofed with Ruabon tiles, and has roof, seating, and woodwork generally of oak. Tho cost bas been £7,000, and the church seats 300 persons. [Building News 6 February 1885 page 231]

WARBURTON - On Tuesday week the new church of St. Werburgh, Warburton, near Heatley, was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester. Although more convenient for some parts of the district, it is some distance from the quaint and picturesque oaken and stone church which it is to supersede. The new edifice has been built, at a cost of some £7,000, by Mr. R. E. Egerton-Warburton, of Arley Hall, from plans by Mr. John Douglas, of Chester. It consists of a nave, north aisle, chancel, and tower placed at the north-east end. The lower part of tower is used as organ chamber and two vestries. The church is built in the Early Perpendicular style, of red Runcorn stone, “scutch-faced " outside, and chiselled inside; and the roofs are covered with brown Ruabon tiles. The tower is 26 feet square outside at the base and rises to a height of 69 feet to the top of the pinnacles, and is divided into three stages, the bells (a peal of eight) occupy the upper chamber. Internally, the nave is divided from the aisle by means of four moulded arches springing from octagonal shafts, which have moulded caps and bases. The roof of nave is constructed of moulded principals, with curved pieces under the backs resting on hammer beams, which again rest upon stone corbels. The chancel roof is constructed of coupled rafters, the ceiling being divided into panels. The timber of the roof, and indeed the whole in the church, is of oak, a chief portion of which has been grown on the estate. The seats are open benches with framed and moulded ends. The aisle and floor of the chancel and sacrarium are paved with tiles, the flooring under the seats being of wood blocks laid on concrete. The organ has been constructed by Messrs. Thorold and Smith (late Jardine and Co.) of Manchester. [Building News 20 February 1885 page 305]