St James St James Street New Bury Farnworth

Early English church consisting of a Nave 72 feet 3 inches by 37 feet 3 inches wide and 12 feet 9 inches high to wall plates. Chancel 23 feet 9 inches by 22 feet wide. South porch 10 feet by 8 feet. Vestry 13 feet by 10 feet. Nave roof in six bays: Chancel roof in two bays. Open timber principals with curved braces and ornamental ironwork. Two rows of wind braces on each side, ceiled under spars. Chancel roof divided into panels with moulded ribs with bosses at intersections. The walls of pitch faced stone with rubble backings and ashlar dressings. Couplet windows in each bay. Plain splayed couplet window at west end with eyelet  over and side lights in addition. Triplet window at east end. Double splay with hood moulds to doorways. Children’s gallery at west end with western entrance and stone steps. Seats red deal. Font of Bath stone. The woodwork throughout is stained and varnished. The church is heated by stoves from Mr Porrit of Bolton and lighted with gas standards each with three branches. Bell cote over west gable with 19 inch bell. Rubble wall round two sides of the plot with two sets of gates and posts. The roofs are covered with Best Duchess seconds slates with 4 inch laps and with ornamental crested tiles at ridge. Flashings and stepped flashings of lead. Chancel arch carried on carved corbels. Roof principals carried on moulded corbels, Stone crosses on east and chancel gables. Floors laid with very carefully selected self faced flags. Seats for 564 persons including children.

The church was begun to be built August 9th 1862 and was opened by licence on January 13th 1864, and after the death of the Patron, the Earl of Bradford, was consecrated December 30th 1865, the consecration being delayed unavoidably on account of legal difficulties connected with the signing of the conveyance of the land. (Holden)

ST. JAMES'S CHURCH, NEWBURY, NEAR BOLTON - This church was erected and opened in 1863 to meet the requirements of the immediate neighbourhood. It was built by subscription, one of the principal contributors being the late (and also the present) Earl of Bradford. When the building was ready for consecration it was found that the Earl, owing to illness, was not able to sign the necessary documents in connection with the transfer of the land, consequently the building could only be licensed, and it was opened for service on the 13th January, 1864. The building was consecrated by the late Bishop Lee (after the death of the late Earl) on the 30th December, 1865. The nave is 72ft. by 37ft. 3in. wide, and the chancel 23ft. 6in. by 22ft. wide. The roof is open timbered, and there is a gallery at the west end for the school children, with entrance from the outside. The organ was originally placed between the chancel and the vestry, but a larger one has a few years since been placed in the children's gallery. There are seats for 564 persons, of which 193 are appropriated and 371 free. The church was built from designs and under the supervision of Messrs. Holden and Son; and the entire cost, including architect's charges, was £2,575, or £4 11s 4d. per sitting. When the building was commenced, as there did not appear to be any prospect of raising the whole of the amount required, arrangements were made for leaving certain portions of the work undone; but, through the exertions of the Rev. C. J. Stewart and the Building Committee, sufficient was subscribed to warrant the proceeding with the whole of the work, which was accordingly done; and the church at the time of consecration was reported clear of debt. [British Architect 31 October 1874 page 279].

Reference           British Architect 31 October 1874 page 279 and illustration