Unitarian Free Church, Cross Lane, Windsor, Pendleton, Salford

The foundation Stone of a new church. which is being built in Pendleton under the auspices of the Manchester District Unitarian Association was laid yesterday by Mr. Richard Harwood, of Seedley Castle, Pendleton. The new building, the site of which is at the corner of Cross Lane, in Pendeton, will be in the Gothic style of architecture, and will be faced with stock brick, with stone dressings. Its total length will be 92 feet; width, 34 feet; and height, to the apex of the roof, 48 feet. It will have an open timbered roof and traceried windows. It will contain sittings for about 300 persons. The cost is estimated at a little under £3,000. The architect is Mr. Thomas Worthington, King-street, Manchester and the builder is Mr. James Herd, Clarence Street, Cheetham. [Manchester Guardian 28 May 1873 page 6]

OPENING OF A UNITARIAN CHURCH AT PENDLETON – Yesterday a Unitarian Free Church, situated at the corner of Cross Lane and Broad Street – the building of which has just been completed at a cost of about £3,000 – was formally opened for divine worship. …. The new chapel consists of a nave 73 feet by 30 feet, with a small transept at each side 20 feet by 10 feet, and a circular apse at the ast end 30 feet in diameter. By means of a movable screen, part of the nave is separated from the apse and transepts, and is intended to serve as a temporary school until the erection of the proper buildings. The accommodation supplied by the portion which will at present be used as the chapel (rather more than 200 seats) does not therefore represent the whole capacity of the building. The apse end, which is lighted by five lofty single lights, filled with stained glass by Messrs Lavers Barrand and Westlake of London, contains on a raised dais, the pulpit and reading desk, with the communion table etc, which are reached from the vestry (placed in one of the transepts) by a broad flight of steps. The seats generally are open and have carved elbows, chamfered and stopped, inclined seats and backs, bookboards etc., and together with the rest of the internal woodwork, are of pitch-pine, stained and varnished. Externally the chapel is faced with red stocks, relieved with bands of blue, and with stone mullions and arch heads of the windows. The window jambs are cornice are of specially made moulded bricks, and the style of architecture is founded on the geometric type which prevailed in the brick and marble churches of Verona and other towns of North Italy. The whole of the work has been executed from the designs and under the direction of Mt T Worthington, architect, of Manchester and London, Mr Herd being the contractor. [Manchester Guardian 3 June 1874 page 6]

PENDLETON UNITARIAN FREE CHURCH- The opening of the Pendleton Unitarian Free Church, which has been erected at the corner of Cross-lane and the Pendleton-road, took place yesterday. The proceedings commenced by a service in the new building, when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Robert Laird Collier, DD, of Chicago, and a very liberal collection made in aid of the building fund. The members of the Unitarian persuasion in this district formerly worshipped in a little chapel in Ford-street, Salford, but the congregation increasing they removed to a larger building in Pendleton. Here they have been located between three and four years, and in consequence of the still increasing number of attendants it was found necessary to erect a large and substantial structure, and the result has been the erection of the present building, which will accommodate about 400 persons. The style of architecture is founded on the geometric type which prevailed in the brick and marble churches in northern Italy, and the work has been carried out from the designs and under the direction of Mr Thomas Worthington, of Manchester and London. Mr Herd is the general contractor, and the cost of the building will not exceed £3,000. Towards this sum about £2,000 has been contributed. In the evening a soiree, which was very numerously attended, was held in the Pendleton Town-hall, under the presidency of the Mayor, Mr Richard Harwood, when addresses were delivered by the Revs  R L Collier, W. Gaskell, S A Steinthal, and other gentlemen. [Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Wednesday 3 June 1874, page 5.]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 May 1873 page 6 - foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 June 1874 page 6 – opening
Reference    Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 3 June 1874, page 5.
Reference    Manchester City News 1 January 1938 page 11 (Manchester Historic Churches,  24)
Reference    British Architect 16 February 1877 Page 105 (and illustration - perspective)