Church of St Bartholomew, Great Lever, Bolton

On Saturday morning the new church dedicated to St. Bartholomew, and situated at the junction of George-street and Nelson-street, at the boundary of Bolton and Great Lever, was consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester.  The movement which resulted in the erection of the church was commenced in 1860, when religious services were conducted in school in Nelson-street, under the supervision of the then vicar and curate of Holy Trinity. In October 1874 Miss Howell of Woodside Great Lever, contributed £5,000 towards the erection of a church. The Manchester Diocesan Church Building Society promised a grant of £400, and other subscriptions coming in raised the total to upwards of £7,000. Plans for the new edifice were prepared by Messrs T. D. Barry and Sons, of Liverpool, and on the 17th September, 1877, the corner was laid by the Earl of Bradford, by whom the site of the church was given. The building, which is in the decorative style of architecture as it prevailed in the early part of the 14th century, is designed to seat 834 adults, and contains nave, 93 feet 4 inches by 27 feet 5 inches; chancel, 23 feet by 27 feet 5 inches; north transept, 31 feet 10 inches by 26 feet; south aisle, 66 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 11 inches; north aisle, 93 feet 4 inches by 11 feet 11 inches; organ chamber, 15 feet by 15 feet; vestry 15 feet by 12 feet; porches at west of north aisle and in south-east corner of transept; warming chamber under vestry, etc. A very prominent feature in the church is the amount of stone and wood carving. On one side of the chancel is carved the head of Queen Victoria, and on the other side the head of the Bishop of Manchester. The church, which has been built by local contractors, cost about £9,000, of which £300 has yet to be raised.  [Manchester Guardian 25 August 1879 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 August 1879 page 6 - consecration
Reference    British Architect 29 August 1879 Page 88
Reference    Builder 6 September 1879 page 1007
Image         Bolton archive. Drawing by John T Proffitt