The Saviour’s Church, Pike's Lane, Bolton

A church erected at the expense of Mr. Thomas Greenhalgh, of Thorneydikes, Sharpies, at cost of about £20,000, it contained provision for 804 worshippers, the whole of the sittings being free and unappropriated.

A new church in Pike’s Lane to be known as The Saviour’s Church was consecrated yesterday by the Bishop of Manchester. It has sittings for 800 and it has cost about ,20,000. The new church is a gift to the district by Mr Thomas Greenhalgh of Thornydikes, Sharples. It is part of a scheme on which the Greenhalgh family have expended about ,60,000. The scheme, which is now complete, included the erection of All Soul’s Church with a parsonage house and schools, and the erection of The Saviours, also with parsonage house and schools. The new church is an extremely handsome building, both inside and outside. In the arrangement of the interior an effort has been made to realise the idea that every member of the congregation should see and hear. The nave, which is 88 feet 6 inches long by 49 feet 6 inches wide is entirely open. There are no pillars to obstruct sight or sound. The spacious chancel35 feet 8 inches long by 25 feet wide, is also arranged after a somewhat novel plan, and instead of projecting beyond the nave, or main body of the church, is embodied in an arrangement of double transepts into which it opens, by two very lofty arches on each side and a lofty chancel arch towards the nave. The chancel and east window are thus in view of the entire congregation. In the double transept on the north side is placed the organ. On the south side, occupying a similar space to the organ are the clergy and choir vestries, screened off from the south transept. The nave is very lofty and open, and is lighted by four large four-light traceried windows in each side. The interior face of the walls and all the aches and stonework internally are of beautifully coloured and chiselled Stourton stone. The roof is of massive construction and somewhat peculiar design, having tie beams and semi-groining at each side springing from corbels running down betwixt each of the large side windows, the whole being of pitch pine. The seats are also of pitch pine and the walls are wainscoted to a height of five feet. The chancel is very handsomely furnished with carved oak stalls, rails, pulpit, and lectern, and the pavement is in diversified patterns of polished marble in three colours. The east window is filled with painted glass in memory of Mr Greenhalgh’s father and mother. The west window is in memory of a sister of the founder. In style the church is a late type of the English Gothic. The architects were Messrs Austin and Paley of Lancaster.

THE SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, BOLTON. The Bishop of Manchester yesterday consecrated a new church, dedicated to The Saviour, at Bolton.  …. The church is situated in Pikes-lane. It is a handsome structure, both internally and externally, and an addition to the locality of which the residents may be proud. In its general plan and arrangement the church is a departure from the usual type. The 86 feet 6 inches long by 49 feet 6 inches wide, is entirely unobstructed by pillars and arches, in order to afford the congregation occupying it a clear view of pulpit, reading-desk, and chancel. There is a spacious chancel, 35 feet 8 inches. by 25 feet, which, instead projecting from the nave or transepts, is embodied in an arrangement of double transepts, opening into them by two lofty arches on each side, and a lofty chancel arch towards the nave. On the north side, and in the transept aisles is placed a fine organ, in a carve case, the front diapason pipes being of plain metal. On the south side, occupying a similar space to the organ, are the clergy and choir vestries. A massive tower, 27 feet square outside and 137 feet high, is placed at the west end, and forms a western porch and baptistery, opening into nave by a lofty pointed arch. A large open porch the north-west corner completes generally description or the plan and arrangements of the church architecture is a late style of English Gothic built entirely of the best bricks, with outside dressings and window tracings of Longridge stone. The nave very lofty and open, and is lighted by four large four-light traceried windows in each side, glazed in ornamental lead patterns. The interior face of the walls and all the arches and stonework internally are of beautifully coloured chiselled Stourton stone. The roof is of massive construction, the whole being of pitch pine. The chancel is furnished with carved stalls, rails, pulpit, and lectern, the pavement being in diversified patterns of polished marble in colours, and the chancel steps of polished limestone. A carved Mansfield stone reredos, with a centre panel, having vine and grapes carved in relief, the Lord’s Prayer, Apostle's Creed, and the Ten Commandments on each side fills the whole of the east wall under the great window. The reredos also bears in bold gilt letters the sacred monogram, “I H S," and below are the words “Do this in remembrance of Me." The large east window of seven lights is filled with beautify painted glass in memory of Mr Greenhalgh's father and  mother. The work depicts various scenes from life of our Lord. The west window, in memory of Elizabeth Frances Greenhalgh, being above the font, is intended to set forth the efficacy of holy baptism, the type chosen being the history of the Deluge. The organ has been erected by Messrs. Brindley and Foster, of Sheffield, and built to the specification and; under the direction of Mr. S. W. Pilling, of Mirfield and Bolton. All the seats in the church are of pitch pine varnished, and are provided hassocks, umbrella racks, etc. Hot water apparatus has been adopted for warming the structure, and lighting of the fabric is effected by ten large wrought iron gasaliers suspended from the roof, with several wall brackets to match. The tower presents a commanding appearance. It contains eight bells, the heaviest of which weighs about a ton, the peal tuned in the key of E. Each of the four pinnacles surmounting the tower are provided with lightning conductors. There is also conductor to the cross on the east gable. A light iron palisading dwarf stone wall, encloses the church. The architects were Messrs Paley and Austin, of Lancaster. [Manchester Courier 25 September 1885 page 6]

Reference     Manchester Guardian Saturday 8 April 1882 Page 10 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 September 1885- consecration
Reference    Manchester Courier 25 September 1885 page 6 - consecration