Holy Trinity, Godson Street Coldhurst, Oldham

• Foundation : Stone laid 13 May 1847
• Consecration : 12 February 1848

When the parish was created an appeal was immediately launched for public subscriptions towards the cost of building the new church. Moneys came from voluntary donations from all parts of the country and from a grant of £250 from the Incorporated Society for the Promoting of Enlargement, Building and Repairing Churches and Chapels (the Church Building Commissioners   administrators of the 1818 Church Extension Fund). Abram Crompton Esq. of High Crompton donated a prominent plot of his land close to the old Coldhurst Hall upon which to build a church.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A CHURCH AT COLDHURST - On Thursday afternoon, the interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a church at Coldhurst, near Oldham, was gone through.  …. The architect of the church is Mr. E. H, Shellard, of Manchester; clerk of the works. Mr S Drinkwater, of Oldham; and the builder, Mr. Emanuel Whitaker, of Coldhurst. The church, which will stand in a commanding position, is to consist of a nave, a chancel, vestry, and a balcony at the west end, and will be in the early English style of architecture. It is intended, if sufficient funds can be raised for the purpose, that it shall eventually have a tower. There will be a gallery the west end of the church. This place of worship will contain 500 sittings, 320 of which will be free. The building is expected to be finished in about seven months.  [Manchester Courier 15 May 1847 page 7]

CONSECRATION OF HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, COLDHURST, NEAR OLDHAM. On Saturday evening, the new church lately erected at Coldhurst, near Oldham, was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Manchester. …  The following is a brief description of the church This beautiful little church, situate on the hill side, is built in the early English style of architecture, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. E. H. Shellard, architect, of this city. It consists of nave 67 feet 10 inches 27 feet 4 inches, and a chancel 37 feet 3 inches by 16 feet. The vestry is on the north side of the chancel, and preparation has been made for a south porch, which will be erected at a future period funds permit. Provision has been made for five hundred persons, and 397 of the sittings will be entirely free. The sittings are open and made to correspond with the old fashioned open seats as frequently seen in many our old country churches. The pulpit suitably placed on the north side the entrance to the chancel, and the reading desk, which is of open work, is on the south side. The chancel is approached from the nave by two steps, and there is an additional step at the chancel rails. The roofs are all of open timber work, and the chancel roof is especially simple and pretty. The interior of the church is peculiarly solemn and imposing, and has a reality in its appearance, which it seldom arrived in most modern compositions. The windows are all single lancets, except at the east end of the chancel, where there is a very handsome window of three lights. The bell turret is placed on the western gable of the nave from whence it is seen to great advantage from the valley below. [Manchester Courier 16 February 1848 page 6].

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 20 March 1847 Page 11 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Wednesday 23 March 1847 Page 8 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Courier 15 May 1847 page 7 – foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 16 February 1848 page 6- consecration
Reference    Manchester Courier 16 February 1848 page 6].