Oak Street Congregational Church, Accrington

OAK STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH - The handsome chapel erected by the Congregationalists worshipping at Oak Street is to be opened next Wednesday, when the Rev. J. Guinness Rogers, of London, is to preach.

The foundation stones of the new church were laid in May last year. The building has been erected on plot of land at the comer of Oak-street and Bank- street, adjoining the old premises, which will now be used as school. The church is an adaptation of the Romanesque style of architecture to the modern congregational requirements and in several respects is somewhat of a departure from traditional and stereotyped forms. The ground plan is of the usual rectangular form, with a central entrance at one end, and gallery staircases at each side of it, the other end being taken up with rostrum and doors leading to the vestries and back entrance. The gallery, also, as usual in churches of this class, is carried all round, the organ and choir being at the rostrum end, the gallery at the entrance end being carried over the porch and vestibules. Instead, however, of the usual plain, flat ceiling, or a row of pillars down each side, the ceiling is formed of two barrel vaults of about 27 feet span intersecting at right angles at about the centre of the building, thus making the plan of the roof approximate to the form of a Greek Cross,  the rectangle of the general plan being still maintained by means of lead flats filling up the angles of the cross. As will be seen, the weight of the roof is concentrated the walls and on the four points where the sides of the cross intersect, so that four iron pillars (one at each of these points) are all that are required inside, the obstruction to view being thus reduced to a minimum. The advantage of this arrangement is also seen in the lighting, the ends of three arms of the cross being taken up by large traceried windows. Perhaps it is of still more advantage in the exterior, where the three gables with their large windows are, next to the tower, the most prominent feature. The tower and spire. which are at the Bank Street and Oak Street corner, rise to a height of 120 feet and form one of the main features of the town. The walling is in parpoints and dressed stone. backed up with brickwork. The church will accommodate about 800. The estimated cost is £5,600. The architect. are Messrs. Potts, Pickup and Dixon, of Manchester, and Potts, Sulman, and Hennings, of London. [Accrington Observer and Times 6 July 1889 page 8]

OPENING OF THE NEW CHAPEL - SERMONS BY THE REV. J. GUINNESS ROGERS - The handsome church erected by the Congregationalists of Accrington at the comer of Oak Street and Bank Street was opened on Wednesday afternoon by a public service. with the Rev. J. Guinness Rogers as the preacher….. Internally, the church is very beautiful and fitted up with many conveniences unknown in most chapels, it stands out very prominently among the most imposing houses of prayer in the district. It has cost, with the land, About £8,000. and the alterations in the old place are expected to bring the total up to £9,000. Towards this sum £6,600 has been raised. The new building, which will accommodate about 800, has a very noble appearance and its spire, rising to the height of 120 feet, can be seen from almost any part, of the town. It is an adaptation of the Romanesque style of architecture to the modern congregational requirements. and in several respects is somewhat of departure from traditional and stereotyped forms. The architects are Messrs. Potts, Pickup, and Dixon. of Manchester, and Messrs. Potts, Sulman. and Hennings, of London; and the contractors are Messrs. Cunliffe and Son; joiners, the Albert Hall Company, Nelson; plumbers. Messrs. Carter and Sons ; slating, Messrs. Evans and Company; plastering, Mr. J. Eatough, of Accrington. [Accrington Observer and Times 13 July 1889 page 8]

Reference    Accrington Observer and Times 6 July 1889 page 8
Reference    Accrington Observer and Times 13 July 1889 page 8