Independent Chapel Edgworth

• Foundation Stone laid 12 July 1866 by Sir James Watts of Manchester
• Opened : 19 April 1867

EDGWORTH - Laying the Foundation Stone of a New Independent Chapel, The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new Independent Chapel at Edgworth took place yesterday. The building will be in the geometrical Gothic style of Architecture, the architect being Mr Maxwell of this town. The contractors for the stone work are Messrs. Rothwell and Collins, of Haslingden, and for the joiners' work Messrs. Pilling and Halliwell, of Edenfield. The whole is estimated to cost £1,300, [Bury Times 31 March 1866 page 3]

OPENING OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, EDGWORTH. Yesterday the new Congregational Church at Edgworth was opened.  The foundation stone was laid twelve months ago by Sir James Watts, of Manchester; that its cost, including site, is upwards of £2,000.  It is in the early geometrical style of Gothic architecture, built of pitch-faced parpoints and gritstone dressings, with open timbered roofs, stained and varnished, and will accommodate on the ground floor 400 persons, and in a gallery the west end about 100. There are minister's and choir vestries, with organ loft over. All inside woodwork is red deal, stained and varnished, and the chapel is heated with hot air, and lighted with gas. The principal entrances are at the east end or principal front, one through the tower, and one through a porch with a corridor, separated from the chapel by glass screen. At the northeast corner is a neat spire, 90 feet high. The chapel is 69 feet long inside by 38 feet broad, exclusive of vestries, and is an average height of 27 feet. It has been erected under the superintendence of Mr. James Maxwell, architect, of Bury. [Bury Times 20 April 1867 page 8]

EDGWORTH: A new Congregational Church has been opened at Edgworth. The site of the building is close to the proposed Bolton new waterworks. The edifice is in the Geometrical style, and will accommodate on the ground-floor 340 persons, and in a gallery at the west end, about 100. The cost has been £1,500 exclusive of land and fencing. The architect is Mr. J. Maxwell, of Bury. [Builder 11 May 1867 page 336]

Reference    Bury Times 13 July 1865 page 2 - contracts
Reference    Bury Times 31 March 1866 page 3
Reference    Bury Times 20 April 1867 page 8
Reference    Builder 18 May 1867 page 336