It was designed by the Lancaster architect Henry Paley of Austin and Paley, and built at a cost of £11,113 (equivalent to £910,000 in 2023),^[3] providing seating for 478 people.^[4] The foundation stone of the original building was laid on 9 March 1836 by Sir Henry Gunning, and it was consecrated on 9 June 1838 by the Bishop of Chester.^[5] Over time, the church had become damaged by mining subsidence to the point where in 1907, the church's bell turret on the tower collapsed. A new tower re-enforced with metal was built to replace it but it started discussions on the need to replace the church.^[2]

Work on a new church did not start until 1935 due to the cost. In 1936, a public subscription in honour of the Silver Jubilee of George V allowed for a clock to be installed in the new tower. The new St John the Evangelist's was consecrated in 1937.^[2] The present church is constructed in stone from Darley Dale, and has a short squat west tower with a saddleback roof. The stained glass in the west window, and two of the wall monuments in the church were moved from the old church.^[6] The two-manual pipe organ was made by Richardson and Sons, and was also moved from the old church.^[5]^[7] The churchyard contains the war graves of seven soldiers of World War I, and three soldiers and two airmen of World War II.^[8] In 2023, the Diocese of Liverpool named St John the Evangelist's Church as a possible one of nineteen churches that could be closed in order to save money on maintenance within the diocese.^[9]

History

See also

References