St Andrew Winterbottom Street/Middleton Road Westhill Oldham

The Church of St Andrew stood on the south side of Middleton Road. It comprised a nave and chancel under one roof ridge, the former with two bay aisles and then double transeptal gables, the latter with parish room on the south side and the base of a tower and small vestry on the north. Stained glass included the east window by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, 1909. The church became disused in 1977 and was later demolished and replaced by an extension to the new church hall which stood beside it.

OLDHAM. - The foundation stone of the new church of S. Andrew, Oldham, was laid on Saturday afternoon, by the Bishop of Manchester The ground plan of the church, the site of which is at the corner of Middleton‑road and Terrace street, comprises a nave 73ft. long, 29ft. wide, and 58ft. high, with lofty arches supporting the clerestory; side aisles 13ft. l0in. wide, and south transept. The chancel, 27ft by 22ft., adjoins Terrace‑street The style of architecture will be the Early English. Sittings are to be provided for 638 persons, and of these 516 will be free and unappropriated. The estimated coat of the structure is £3,300. The architect is Mr John Lowe, of Manchester. [Building News 26 August 1870 page 158]

OLDHAM - St Andrew’s Church has been consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester. Its dimensions are as follows: nave 70 feet by 28 feet; aisles 12 feet 6 inches wide; chancel 22 feet long and the same width as the nave; south transept 28 feet by 16 feet; tower 9 feet square inside, placed in the angle between vestry and north aisle. The organ chamber and vestry are one each side of the chancel. The roofs are open to the apex and are plastered between the principals, the height of nave and chancel being the same viz 47 feet 6 inches. The building is of brick with stone dressings. The tower has only been carried high enough to form a porch over the entrance; but it is to be completed as soon as the funds will permit. The total cost of the building as now erected is about £4,400, a large amount being expended on foundations, owing to the awkwardness of the site. The pulpit, reading desk, font, and tiling to the chancel were the gifts of various friends. The architect was Mr John Lowe of Manchester, and the work was nearly all done by Oldham tradesmen. [Builder 31 May 1873 Page 434].

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 14 May 1870 Page 8 (Contracts) Tender for excavation and brickwork to foundations
Reference    Manchester Guardian, Saturday 8 April 1871, Page 6 (Contracts) Tenders required for the building of the church from foundations already executed
Reference    Building News 26 August 1870 Page 158
Reference    Builder 10 September 1870 Page 731
Reference    Builder 31 May 1873 Page 434
Reference    Manchester Courier Saturday 10 May 1873 Page 6 Column 5 - consecration
Reference    Pevsner: Lancashire: South