Burscough Methodist Church facts for kids

The Burscough Methodist Church is a special building in Burscough, Lancashire, England. It was first known as the Wesleyan Chapel at Burscough Bridge. This church is part of the Lancashire West Methodist Circuit. It was built a long time ago, between 1868 and 1869. The church is made of brick and has a shape like a cross. It officially opened its doors on March 26, 1869. What's cool is that it was built for less money than they expected! Many people, including the builder, foreman, and even the Mayor of Southport, gave gifts to the church when it opened. A big part of the church was also used for a Sunday school for children.

Where is the Church Located?

Burscough Methodist Church is on Orrell Lane in Burscough. It is west of the A59 road and north of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Before this church was built in 1869, the Methodist group met in a small room on Bridge Street. This room became too small as more and more people joined the church. That's why they needed a new, bigger building.

How the Church Was Built

Building the church started on July 20, 1868. There was a special ceremony to lay the foundation stone. A man named James Wood laid the stone. About 600 people came to watch, and the local railway even offered cheaper tickets for the event! James Wood was given a silver trowel as a thank you for his help and generous donations.

The church was designed by an architect named T. Bridge. His father, E. Bridge, watched over the building work. The church was built with bricks and shaped like a cross. It even had a tall spire that was about 50 feet high. Inside, the main part of the church was 46 by 30 feet. It had special windows that were in pairs or groups of three. The ceilings were arched, and the doors and windows had colorful brick arches. There was also a wooden entrance porch.

The church was expected to cost about £950 to build. That would be like £527,000 today. But it was actually built for less, costing only £800. This would be about £444,000 in today's money. Many people gave gifts to the church. The builder, E. Bridge, gave the communion table. The foreman, Anthony Derby, gave the pulpit. The Meek family gave carpets. The Mayor of Southport, Dr. Woods, and his wife gave a special hymn book and Bible. They also gave a red silk cushion for the pulpit and a marble fireplace for the vestry room.

Opening Day and School

The church officially opened on March 26, 1869. There was a public ceremony, and the church was completely full! When it first opened, a wooden screen divided the church. Only the front part was used for church services. The rest of the building was used by the school that was attached to the church. In 1870, the church was given permission to hold marriage ceremonies.

The school next to the church, called Burscough Bridge Methodist School, opened a little later, on January 9, 1871.

Updates and Changes Over Time

The church has been updated several times over the years. In 1906, the inside of the church was redecorated, and it got a new roof. This cost about £200, which would be like £74,000 today. Then, in 1938, a beautiful stained glass window was put in. It was a memorial to Francis Henry Rouffignac, who was the headteacher at the Burscough Methodist School.

A very big renovation happened in 2014. This project cost over £300,000! The changes made the church easier for people in wheelchairs to use. They also created a new reception area and added new windows to one side of the building. The church is still an active part of the Lancashire West Methodist Circuit today.