Church of St Joseph (RC) Ramsbottom
RAMSBOTTOM - On the 29th ult., Dr Vaughan, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, laid the first stone of St. Joseph's Church, Ramsbottom, which when completed will consist of nave, north and south aisles, chancel, and sacristies, with tower and spire at the south‑west comer facing the Bolton‑road. The nave will be 70 feet by 23 feet, and 42 feet high to the ridge of the vaulted roof, the aisles 11 feet 6in. wide, and the chancel 26 feet by 21 feet, and 38 feet to the ridge of the vaulted roof. The style is Gothic of Early Geometric character. At present only the nave and aisles are being erected. at a cost of about ,2, .500, the contracts being in the hands of local men, and under the superintendence of Mr C W Whittenbury, of the firm of Bird and Whittenbury, architects, Manchester.[Building News 10 October 1879 page 447]
The opening of the new Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph at Ramsbottom took place yesterday week. The church, the foundation stone of which was laid on 27th September 1879 by the Bishop of Salford, is in the Gothic style. As opened it consists only of nave and aisles, constructed at a cost of about £2,400. At some future period a spire and other portions will be added, the cost of the completed design being estimated at upwards of £3,000. [British Architect 1 October 1880 Page 150]
RAMSBOTTOM. - The church of St. Joseph, Ramsbottom, was opened on Thursday, Sept. 30, by his eminence Cardinal Manning. It is a clerestoried building designed in the Early Gothic, Geometric period, and when completed will consist of nave, north and south aisles, chancel and sacristies, with tower and spire at the south‑west comer; at present only the nave and aisles have been erected. The nave is 70 feet long by 2l feet wide, and 42 feet high to the ridge of the vaulted roof, and the aisles 11 feet 6 inches wide, which are divided from the nave by an arcade of four arches, supported on Yorkshire stone columns with moulded caps and bases. The church is seated with open benches and will accommodate about 500. The cost of the church, as at present erected, is about £2,500. The whole of the works have been carried out from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Clifton W. Whittenbury, of the firm of Bird and Whittenbury, architects, of King‑street, Manchester. [Building News 15 October 1880 page 457]
Reference Building News 10 October 1879 page 447 - foundation stone
Reference British Architect 1 October 1880 page 150 - opening
Reference Building News 15 October 1880 page 457 - opening