Burscough Methodist Church facts for kids

Burscough Methodist Church is a historic building in Burscough, Lancashire, England. It was once known as the Wesleyan Chapel at Burscough Bridge. This church is part of the Lancashire West Methodist Circuit. It was built from 1868 to 1869 using bricks. The church has a special shape called a cruciform layout, which looks like a cross. It officially opened on March 26, 1869. What's cool is that it was built for less money than planned! Many people involved in building it, like the architect and foreman, gave gifts to the church when it opened. Even the Mayor of Southport donated items. A big part of the church was used for the Methodist Sunday school, helping kids learn and grow.

Finding Burscough Methodist Church

Burscough Methodist Church is located on Orrell Lane in Burscough. You can find it west of the A59 road and north of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Before this church building was finished in 1869, the Methodist group met in a smaller room on Bridge Street. That room became too small as more and more people joined the church.

How the Church Was Built

Building the church started on July 20, 1868. A special ceremony took place to lay the foundation stone. This important stone was laid by James Wood. About 600 people came to watch, and the local railway even offered cheaper train tickets for the event! James Wood received a silver trowel with a special message on it. This was to thank him for laying the stone and for his generous donations to the church project.

The church was designed by an architect named T. Bridge. He used an "early pointed style of architecture," which is a type of English Gothic architecture. His father, E. Bridge, watched over the building work. The church was made from bricks and had a cruciform shape, meaning it looked like a cross from above. It also featured a tall spire, which is a pointed top, about 50 feet (15 m) high.

Inside, the main part of the church, called the nave, was 46 by 30 feet (14.0 by 9.1 m). The side sections, known as transepts, were each 42 by 18 feet (12.8 by 5.5 m). The area near the altar, called the chancel, was 16 by 8 feet (4.9 by 2.4 m). The church had tall, narrow windows, often in pairs or groups of three, called lancet windows. It also had arched ceilings and colorful brick arches around the doors and windows. A wooden entrance porch welcomed people into the church.

The building was expected to cost around £950. That would be like £527,000 today! But the builders did a great job and finished the church for only £800. This was about £444,000 in today's money. Many people gave gifts to the new church. The builder, E. Bridge, donated the communion table. The foreman, Anthony Derby, gave the pulpit. The Meek family from Preston and Wigan provided carpets. Even the Mayor of Southport, Dr. Woods, and his wife gave a special hymn book and bible. They also donated a red silk cushion for the pulpit and a marble fireplace for the vestry, which is a room for the clergy.

When the Church Opened

The church officially opened its doors on March 26, 1869. There was a public ceremony, and the church was completely full! At first, a wooden screen divided the church. Only the main part, the nave, 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 received permission to hold marriage ceremonies.

The school next to the church, called Burscough Bridge Methodist School, opened shortly after, on January 9, 1871.

Changes and Updates Over Time

Over the years, Burscough Methodist Church has been updated. In 1906, the inside of the church was redecorated, and a new roof was put on. This cost about £200, which would be around £74,000 today. Later, in 1938, a beautiful stained glass window was added. This window was a special way to remember Francis Henry Rouffignac, who was the headteacher at the attached Burscough Methodist School.

A very big renovation happened in 2014. This project cost over £300,000! The changes made the church easier for people using wheelchairs to access. They also created a new reception area with a new entrance and windows on the north side of the building. The church continues to be an active part of the Lancashire West Methodist Circuit today.