Church of St. Aidan Bamber Bridge

BAMBER BRIDGE, PRESTON. - On Saturday afternoon Dr. Moorhouse, the Bishop of Manchester laid the foundation-stone of the church of St. Aidan, Bamber Bridge, to be erected at an estimated cost of £5,000. The building, which was illustrated by plan, section, elevation, and perspective in the Building News for 23 February this year, is being built from designs by Mr R. Knill Freeman, of Bolton and Manchester, selected in competition. The style is Late Decorated, and, at present the east end, transepts, and first three bays of the nave will, be built. The walling is of Yorkshire stone parpoints, with designs of red Rainhill stone, and the roof will be covered with green tiles. The internal walls of the chancel will be plastered, while in the other portions of the church red brick will be used for facings. [Building News 21 September 1894 page 412]

CHURCH, BAMBER BRIDGE, LANCASHIRE - On the 19th inst., the Bishop of Manchester (Dr. Moorhouse) consecrated the church of St. Aidan, Bamber Bridge. The erected portion of the church has been built at an outlay of about £4,000. It consists of chancel, north and south transepts, and side chapel, the two easternmost bays of nave, organ-chamber, and choir and clergy vestries, the west end having been left for future extension. The church, when complete, will consist of a wide and lofty nave, with side arcades, the aisles being used as passages only. The transepts are of good size, and the north chancel aisle is arranged as a chapel, the vestries and organ-chamber being placed on the south side of the chancel. The chancel is large and is well raised above the nave. The roofs have internal waggon-shaped ceilings, boarded, and with moulded ribs. The windows have traceried heads and are filled with cathedral glass of varied tints in geometrical designs. Externally, the building has been faced with Yorkshire stone parpoints, red Rainhill stone being used for all dressed work. The roofs are covered with north-country green slates, with red ridges, and the gable over chancel arch is surmounted by a bell turret. Internally, the walls generally are faced with red brick, but those to chancel are plastered. The woodwork throughout is of pitch-pine unvarnished. The portions now erected provide seating accommodation for 450 worshippers, which number will be increased to 800 when the church is completed. The style adopted is Late Decorated Gothic, and the building has been carried out from the designs, and under the superintendence, of Mr. R. Knill Freeman, of Bolton and Manchester, whose design was selected in open competition. The contractors for the work were Messrs. Moore Brothers, of Rawtenstall; and Mr. I. Yates, of Bamber Bridge, has acted as clerk of works. The heating has been carried out by Mr. Metcalf, heating engineer, of Preston, and the lead glazing by Messrs. Walmsley & Company, also of Preston. [Builder 23 November 1895 page 383]

Yellow stone and red stone dressings. Perpendicular with double transepts and the bell-cote on the nave east end. The western extension is of 1914-15. [Pevsner: North Lancashire]

Reference    British Architect 28 September 1894 Page 231 - Additional notes not taken
Reference    Building News 21 September 1894 page 412 - foundation stone
Reference    Builder 23 November 1895 page 383 - consecration
Reference    Pevsner: North Lancashire