Additions: Church of St. John the Evangelist, Church Street, Farnworth

The original church was designed by Philip Hardwick of London (qv) and consecrated in 1826. In 1867 the boundary walls were built to a design by Cunliffe and Freeman and in  1871-1873 Richard Knill Freeman carried out extensive repairs and additions to the church.

FARNWORTH-WITH-KEARSLEY - The parish church of Farnworth-with-Kearsley, to which extensive additions and alterations have been made, has been re-opened. The additions to the church consist of two new porches which have been erected on either side of the western entrance, the steps occupied by the old gallery porches being added to the ground-floor in order to give more sitting accommodation. The pewing has been remodelled, and constructed of pitch pine, and the gallery-front has been altered and decorated with stencil-work devices. The walls have been dressed down with oil paints. A new and commodious chancel has been added. The altar has not yet been placed in position. By the present alterations about 350 sittings have been added. The cost of the work amounts to £4,000, of which £3,000. have already been raised. The architect was Mr. R. K. Freeman, of Bolton. [Builder 18 October 1873 Page 834]

FARNWORTH-WITH-KEARSLEY - The parish church of Farnworth-with-Kersley, Lancashire, was reopened on Thursday, the 25th ult, after restoration under the direction of Mr. R. Knill Freeman, architect, Bolton. The old pewing has been removed, and pitch-pine benches, with panelled ends, have been substituted. The space occupied by the old staircases to the galleries has been added to the church, and porches with stone staircases built on each side of the tower. "The gallery front has been lowered and altered, and the organ removed to the north chancel aisle. The stonework of the whole of the windows has been renewed, and the heads filled with Geometrical tracery, the glazing being executed in two tints of rolled cathedral glass. The font has been re- moved from the centre of the church to the north-west corner. In place of the small recess some 7 feet deep, which formerly served as chancel, a new chancel has been erected, 33 feet long by 23 feet wide. It is divided longitudinally into three bays by roof principals, which spring from small shafts between the clerestory windows, which are each of two lights, with traceried heads. The east window is to be filled with stained glass. The floor is laid with German tiles. The altar-piece is of S Ann's marble, the altar steps being of polished Yorkshire stone. The sedilia and choir stalls are of pitch pine, elaborately treated. The pulpit, which is octagonal in shape, is of pitch pine, supported on a stone base springing from moulded shafts with elaborately carved caps. The north chancel aisle is devoted to the organ and vestries for the clergy and choir; the south chancel aisle is appropriated to the Sunday scholars. The contractors for the joiners' work were Messrs. Coope, Bros., Farnworth; and for the plastering painting, glazing, gas fitting, and decoration, Messrs. Leach, of Farnworth, who were the general contractors for the works. The total cost was about £4,500. [Building News 3 October 1873 page 381]

Reference        Builder 18 October 1873 Page 834
Reference        Building News 3 October 1873 page 381

NOTE – It seems that the church invited both Paley and Austin and R Knill Freeman to submit plans for the alteration works of 1871-3. This has generated some confusion. (Brandwood page 226], [Pevsner page 299]. Wikipedia have included these works as by Paley and Austin, whereas the contemporary sources referenced above clearly indicate that R Knill Freeman was responsible.