St. James's Church, Calderbrook near Littleborough

ROCHDALE - The foundation of this building was laid last week. The architect is G. Shaw, of St. Chad's, Saddleworth, and the style he has adopted is the Decorated. The church is to consist of chancel, nave, north aisle, chapel for the use of the founder's family, tower and spire, vestry, and porch. The chapel is to be called Trinity Aisle, and underneath it will be a vault, with an external door, for the future burial of members of the founder's family. The site of the church is in a field on the road leading from Littleborough to Featherstall and is about a mile from the latter. The contractor is Mr M Healey, of Huddersfield. [Building News 7 September 1860 page 705]

ST JAMES'S CHURCH, CALDERBROOK - Thursday was observed by the inhabitants of Littleborough and Calderbrook as a general holiday on account of the laying of the foundation stone of a new church to be dedicated to St James, which is to be erected on the hillside within a short distance of the entrance to Summit Tunnel near Littleborough, in the township of Calderbrook. The day was further celebrated on account of James Griffiths Dearden Esq., son of James Dearden Esq., lord of the manor of Rochdale, having attained his majority. To mark the event the lord of the manor gave the land for the site of the new church and at his sole expense he intends to build it in the most costly style and endow it. [Manchester Courier - Saturday 25 August 1860 page 8]

We may observe that the new church is to be in the decorated style of architecture which prevailed during the reign of the three Edwards, and, as before stated will be erected and endowed by Mr. Dearden himself. The stone to be used will be of the neighbourhood - a kind of grit sandstone. It will have a spire 155 feet high and have a chancel, nave, North aisle, and a chapel for use of the founder's family, which is to be called Trinity Aisle, to be vaulted underneath, with an external approach for the future burials of the founders' descendants. There will be at the entrance the usual porch; the seats will be open stalls; the roofs open to the timbers, and every roof will be different in style from the others. It is proposed eventually to fit up the church in the richest and most expensive style, a large amount of stained glass being put in.  The architect will be George Shaw, Esq, of Saddleworth. [Rochdale Observer 25 August 1860 page 3]

THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER'S FIRST CONSECRATION - Yesterday the Bishop of Manchester consecrated a church at Calderbrook, near Littleborough. The edifice was erected the expense of the lord of the manor, Mr. Dearden. The foundation stone was laid nine years ago, and the building was finished in 1863 but owing to some difference in the transfer of property to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the consecration was delayed until yesterday. The cost of erection is estimated at £3,000. it is intended as a chapel of ease to the existing church at Littleborough. This being the first church consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester there was a numerous congregation, the gentry and clergy attending in large numbers. [Manchester Courier - Saturday 23 April 1870 page 5]

ST. JAMES'S CHURCH, CALDERBROOK. CONSECRATION BY THE BISHOP - The church, which is picturesquely situated among the hills on the Old Road between Littleborough and Todmorden was consecrated yesterday week, by Dr. Fraser the Lord Bishop of Manchester. The edifice, which is built in a somewhat plain style, was commenced in the year 1861, by the late Lord of the Manor. Mr. Dearden, who died, however, in the following year. It was finished by his son, the present lord of the manor Mr. James Griffith Dearden. The church, we believe, was all but finished about six years ago, but owing to some difficulty in its transfer to the ecclesiastical commissioners, the consecration was delayed until yesterday week. From the sentence of consecration which during the service was read by the Bishop's Chancellor, it appeared that St. James's is intended as a chapel of ease to the church at Littleborough, and the Rochdale Vicarage Act provides £100 for a curate. The church will accommodate about 600 worshippers, and the coat of its erection is something like £3,000. Mr. Shaw, of Saddleworth, is the architect. The fact that the consecration is the first that has occurred since the appointment of Dr. Fraser to the Bishopric of Manchester, much interest was therefore felt in the ceremony. [Rochdale Observer - Saturday 30 April 1870 page 7]

Reference    Building News 7 September 1860 page 705
Reference    Manchester Courier - Saturday 25 August 1860 page 8
Reference    Rochdale Observer 25 August 1860 page 3
Reference    Manchester Courier - Saturday 23 April 1870 page 5 – consecration
Reference    Rochdale Observer - Saturday 30 April 1870 page 7

Revised and updated 7 February 2026