St. Catherine Horwich

Plans for the church were drawn up by Frank Palmer of Horwich in 1897 and deposited with the local council, but following a disagreement with building committee, Knill Freeman was appointed. St Catherine’s Church was built in two phases. The nave with a temporary chancel were put up in 1897‑1902, then the chancel was completed in 1931‑2. The interior is remarkable for its art nouveau fittings, including two unusual 3 feet by 2 feet high‑quality glazed, tube‑lined ceramic panels at the west end. They were installed around 1916 in memory of Catherine Ainsworth, who helped found the church, and show the flower garden at her home and a fiery scene of destruction with a quotation from Romans 16.20: “The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”

ST. CATHERINE’S CHURCH, HORWICH - The new church is situated on a site near Chorley New-road, and the portion completed consists of nave, side aisles, vestries, and temporary chancel, leaving transepts, side chapel, chancel, and east end to be added at some future time. The present part provides about 600 sittings, which number will be largely increased when the church is completed. In the basement, a large parish room is provided, also lavatories, &c. Externally the building is built of local brick, with red Ruabon terra-cotta dressings, and North Country green slates with red ridge The windows are filled with lead glazing of ornamental design, and the clearstory walls are finished with rough cast, the lower walls being faced with pressed brick with internal dressings of red Rainhill stone. The inside woodwork is of pitch pine, left unvarnished, the inner boarded ceilings, which will be waggon-shaped, being left to be carried out at some future time. The floors of passages to aisles are of red Ruabon tiles, and the main entrances are at the west end, internal screens of pitch-pine filled with lead glazing being provided to each. It is proposed to seat with chairs for the present, and the lighting is by ornamental pendants hung from the nave arcading, and incandescent light is to be used. The heating is by hot water on the low-pressure system and has been carried out by Mr. John Crook, of Bolton. The temporary chancel is of the required size, and 13 separated from the nave by temporary chancel arches the two side bays of which are filled in with low pitch-pine screens of suitable design. The contractors for the whole of the works are Messrs. Moore Bros., of Rawtenstall, their subcontractors being Mr T. C. Cowpe, of Rawtenstall, plastering and painting; Mr William Shaw Farnworth, slating; Mr William Witter. Bolton, plumbing and Messrs. Walmsley and Company, Preston, lead glazing. The work has been carried out from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. R. Knill Freeman, of Bolton and Manchester. [Builder 10 May 1902 page 480]

HORWICH - St Catherine’s Church, Horwich, was opened on Ascension Day. The new church as completed consists of lofty nave, side aisles, vestries and temporary chancel, leaving side chapel, chancel, and east end to be added at some future time. The present part provides about 600 sittings. In the basement a large parish-room is provided, also lavatories, &c. Externally the building is of local brick, with red Ruabon terracotta dressings and North-country green slates, with red ridge. The heating is by hot water. The contractors for the whole of the works are Messrs Moore Bros, of Rawtenstall. The work has been carried out from the designs, and under the supervision of Mr R Knill Freeman of Bolton and Manchester. [Building News vol 82, 9 May 1902, page 662]

Reference    Builder 10 May 1902 page 480
Reference    Building News 9 May 1902 page 662

 See separate entry for completion of church