Holy Trinity Church Bolton-le‑Moors.

RENOVATION TRINITY CHURCH, BOLTON - The services at Holy Trinity Church, Bolton-le-Moors, were resumed on Sunday, November 1, after an interval of several weeks, during which extensive alterations hare been effected. The church, though not an ugly building, presented, before these alterations were begun, a somewhat dreary and dismal appearance. Pews, tasteless in design and uncomfortable in form, filled the nave. Chancel there was none; but a shallow, three-sided eastern termination to the nave, guarded a high cast iron railing, bowing out towards the west represented the chancel. Two cumbrous and lofty wooden pulpits—from one of which the prayers were read—blocked out, to great extent, the view of the quasi –chancel. The organ stood in the west gallery. The ceilings, which are groined in plaster, and are not unsightly form, were, with the walls, utterly cold and cheerless in their aspect One day sufficed to clear out from the nave all the old pews. Their place is now supplied by others, comfortable in shape, and sightly to the eye; but they do not extend as far eastward the old ones. In the two eastern of the nave is a proper chancel-like arrangement The floor is raised three steps, and laid with Maw's ornamental tiles ; and on either side are two rows of choristers' seats, and low prayer-desk. There are two more steps at the communion rails, which are about half the height of the old ones, and open. The space within the rails is laid with more ornamental tiles than those outside. The chancel fittings are of pitch pine. To prevent all crowding and confusion at the time of the Holy Communion, side passages have been provided by the rails, so that communicants approach up the centre of the chancel, and pass away on either side. The great pulpits have been taken away. A temporary one does duty at present; but new one, the gift of two members of the congregation, is soon expected. The organ is taken down from aloft and placed behind the choir seats, at the north-east corner of the church, where it looks very well, and is conveniently adjacent to the choristers. No part of the main fabric of the church has been touched, but these few and simple alterations have done wonders in producing a thoroughly church-like affect New and handsome gas coronae, with a few brackets and standards, take the place of the old and shabby gas fittings. The church ia one well adapted to receive coloured decoration, and has, therefore, been so treated. There is nothing showy or gaudy, but the church now looks warm, and cheerful, and inviting. The ceilings are a soft blue, and in the centre of each of the fourteen nave panels is an ornamental medallion—two devices being placed alternately. The walls are of a warm cream colour, and the mouldings, cornices, and other parts are slightly touched and relieved with different colours. The baptistry has somewhat more ornament and colour, and a text, relating to the ordinance, is painted on the walls. The two tables the decalogue are placed on the east walls of the one on each side of the arch. There is a good deal of panelling and arcading round the apsidal recess, or quasi-chancel, at the east end. This all been ornamented with diaper-work, and various devices in colour and gold, so as to make vary fair reredos. In all that been done, whether in planning decoration, great care been taken to get the effect of thoroughly Protestant church, and to avoid all that might, however unwittingly, offend the scruples of any. Ae fittings were all prepared before the workmen entered the church, ao that the improvements above described have stopped the services for short time only. Mr. W. Clark, of Manchester, is the joiner who has been employed. The tiling was done by Messrs. T. Dale and Son, and the painting and decoration by Mr. B. Park, Preston. The architects, from whose designs and under whose superintendence the whole work has been executed, are Messrs, J, Medland Taylor and Henry Taylor, Manchester. [Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 7 November 1868 page 11]

BOLTON - Holy Trinity Church, Bolton-le-Moors, has been re-opened after au interval of several weeks, during which extensive alterations have been effected. The old pews have been replaced by others, but they do not extend so far eastward as the old ones. In the two eastern bays of the nave is a chancel-like arrangement. The floor is raised three steps, and laid with Maw’s ornamental tiles. The chancel fittings are of pitch pine. No part of the main fabric of the church has been touched. New gas coronas, with a few brackets and standards take the place of the old and shabby gas fittings. The church has received some coloured decoration. The ceilings are a soft blue, and in the centre of each of the fourteen nave panels is an ornamental medallion, two devices being placed alternately. The walls are of a cream colour, and the mouldings, cornices, and other parts are slightly touched and relieved with different colours. The baptistery has somewhat more ornament and colour. The fittings were all prepared before the workmen entered the church. Mr. W. Clark, of Manchester, was the joiner employed. The tiling was done by Messrs. T. Dale & Son, and the painting and decoration by Mr. R. Park, of Preston. The architects, from whose designs and under whose superintendence the whole work bus been executed, are Messrs. J. Medland Taylor & Henry Taylor, of Manchester. [Builder 21 November 1868 page 866]

Reference        Building News 19 June 1868 page 425 - tenders
Reference        Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 7 November 1868 page 11
Reference        Builder 21 November 1868 page 866