Church of St Thomas, Ashworth Street, Dixon Green, Farnworth
- Foundation : stone laid May 1878
- Consecrated : 14 April 1879.
- Declared redundant : 1 November 1996
NEW CHURCH AT FARNWORTH - On Saturday afternoon the foundation stone of the new church of St Thomas, Dixon Green, Farnworth, was laid by the Hon. Algernon Egerton MP. In 1869 a school was erected at Dixon Green and was licensed for divine services. Three years later steps were taken to build a church, and application was made to the Bridgewater Trustees, who are large landowners in the neighbourhood, for a site. A plot of land off Albert Road was readily graned for the purpose and subsequently the Trustees subscribed a sum of £500 towards the building fund. Subscriptions, however, came in slowly and it was not until November last that the Building Committee felt themselves warranted in instructing an architect to prepare plans. The church is to be in the early English style of architecture and is intended to seat about 660 persons. Exclusive of tower and spire, which are to be added at a future period, the church will cost upwards of ,8,000 of which ,5,200 has been raised. The district to be assigned to the Church will consist of part of the district at present attached to St John's Church, Farnworth-cum-Kearsley, and part of that of St James, New Bury. There was a large attendance at the laying of the foundation stone. A procession of Sunday school scholars, choir and clergy, headed by the band of the local volunteer corps, walked from the schoolroom to the site where the Rev H P Edge (the curate in charge) presented Mr Egerton with a handsome silver trowel with which to lay the stone. Mr Rawson (the architect) of Manchester presented Mr Egerton with a mallet. The stone was laid with the usual formalities. .... The report continues with speeches. [Manchester Guardian 21 May 1877 Page 7 Column 3]
DIXON GEEEN - The new Church of St. Thomas, at Dixon Green, near Farnworth, was consecrated on Easter Monday. The church is in the Early English style, built of Yorkshire stone, and is plain but substantial. Internally it consists of nave and chancel, having a total length of 139 feet, and is capable of accommodating some 630 persons. It has cost about £8,000. Mr. J. S. Rawson, of King‑street, Manchester, was the architect. [Building News 18 April 1879 page 429]
DIXON GREEN - The new Church of St. Thomas, at Dixon Green, was consecrated last Monday week. It is in the Early English style, and is built of Yorkshire stone. The building consists of nave and chancel, and will accommodate about 630 persons. The cost has been about £8,000. [British Architect 2 May 1879 page 187].
Reference Manchester Guardian Monday 21 May 1877 Page 4 and Page 7 Column 3
Reference Building News 18 April 1879 page 429
Reference British Architect 2 May 1879 page 187