List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England facts for kids

A Commissioners' church is a special kind of Anglican church in the United Kingdom. These churches were built using money approved by the Parliament (the UK's main law-making body) through a law called the Church Building Act 1818, and other similar laws that followed.

These churches have a few different nicknames, like "Commissioners' Churches," "Waterloo Churches" (because they were built around the time of the Battle of Waterloo), or "Million Act Churches." Sometimes, the Commissioners (the people in charge of the money) paid for the whole church. Other times, they gave a grant, and the local community raised the rest of the money. This list shows the Commissioners' churches found in North East England and North West England.

Understanding Church Grades: What Do They Mean?

When you see a church listed with a "Grade," it means it's a very important building in the UK. These grades help protect historical and special buildings.

• Grade I: These are buildings that are super important and special. They are sometimes even famous around the world!
• Grade II*: These buildings are also very important and have more than just a special interest.
• Grade II: These are buildings that are important to the country and have a special interest.
• If you see "—", it means the building isn't graded, perhaps because it no longer exists.

Amazing Commissioners' Churches in England

Here's a look at some of the churches built with help from the Commissioners' fund. You'll see different styles and stories for each one!

Churches Built Between 1819 and 1825

St Peter's Church, Blackburn, Lancashire

This church was built between 1819 and 1822 by John Palmer. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style, which means it looked like older medieval churches, and had a tall tower. Sadly, it was pulled down in 1976.

St Peter's Church, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

Built from 1821 to 1824 by Francis Goodwin, this church received a grant of £13,191. It's also in the Gothic Revival style, featuring a west tower and pointy decorations called pinnacles. It's a Grade II listed building.

St George's Church, Tyldesley, Greater Manchester

This church was built by Sir Robert Smirke from 1821 to 1824, with a grant of £9,706. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and a tall steeple. A chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) was added in 1886. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Hoghton, Lancashire

Built by Robert Roper from 1822 to 1823, this church received £2,037. It has a Gothic Revival design with four turrets (small towers). It was rebuilt in 1891 and is a Grade II listed building.

St John's Church, Workington, Cumbria

Built by Thomas Hardwick from 1822 to 1823, this church received £10,488. It was designed in the Neoclassical style, which looks like ancient Greek or Roman buildings, with a porch and a wooden cupola (a small dome). A tower was added in 1847 and a chancel in 1881. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Peter's Church, Preston, Lancashire

This church was built by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson from 1822 to 1824, with a grant of £6,765. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell gable (a wall with openings for bells) and a clerestory (an upper part of the wall with windows). An east tower with a spire was added in 1851. Today, it's part of the University of Central Lancashire. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Philip's Church, Salford, Greater Manchester

Built by Sir Robert Smirke from 1822 to 1824, this church received a large grant of £16,804. It's a Neoclassical church with a south porch and a tower. It's a Grade II* listed building.

All Saints Church, Stand, Greater Manchester

This beautiful church was designed by Sir Charles Barry and built from 1822 to 1825, with a grant of £13,812. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and an arcade (a row of arches). It's a very important Grade I listed building.

St George's Church, Chorley, Lancashire

Built by Thomas Rickman from 1822 to 1825, this church received £12,387. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1891. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Matthew's Church, Manchester

Designed by Sir Charles Barry and built from 1822 to 1825, this church received £16,733. It was a Gothic Revival church with a tower, spire, and arcade. Sadly, it was pulled down in 1951.

St Paul's Church, Preston, Lancashire

Built by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson from 1822 to 1825, this church received £6,221. It was a Gothic Revival church with corner turrets. A chancel was added in 1882. Today, it's used as a radio studio. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Thomas' Church, Stockport, Greater Manchester

Designed by George Basevi and built from 1822 to 1825, this church received £15,636. It's a Neoclassical church with an east porch and a west tower. A chancel was added in 1890. It's a very important Grade I listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Bolton, Greater Manchester

Built by Philip Hardwick from 1823 to 1825, this church received £13,924. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It is now a redundant church, meaning it's no longer used for regular services. It's a Grade II listed building.

Churches Built Between 1826 and 1835

St John's Church, Gateshead Fell, Tyne and Wear

Built by John Ions from 1824 to 1825, this church received £1,000. It's in the Gothic Revival style and was restored in 1885. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Evangelist's Church, Farnworth, Greater Manchester

Designed by Thomas Hardwick and built from 1824 to 1826, this church received £6,704. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1871. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Matthew's Church, Stretton, Cheshire

Built by Philip Hardwick from 1826 to 1827, this church received £2,121. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It has since been replaced. It's a Grade II listed building.

St George's Church, Manchester

Designed by Francis Goodwin and built from 1826 to 1828, this church received £15,025. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. In 2000, it was converted into flats. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St James' Church, Oldham, Greater Manchester

Built by Francis Goodwin from 1827 to 1828, this church received £9,652. It's a Gothic Revival church with a turret on a low tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Darwen, Lancashire

Designed by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson and built from 1827 to 1829, this church received £6,799. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It is now called St Peter's. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Mary's Church, Mellor, Lancashire

Built by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson from 1827 to 1829, this church received £5,534. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. The chancel was made bigger in 1897. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John's Church, Burscough, Lancashire

Designed by Daniel Stewart and built from 1829 to 1831, this church received £3,040. It's a Gothic Revival church with a belfry (a structure holding bells). It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Thomas' Church, Pendleton, Greater Manchester

Built by Francis Goodwin and Richard Lane from 1829 to 1831, this church received £6,673. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It was restored in 1887. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Ulverston, Cumbria

Built by Anthony Salvin from 1829 to 1832, this church received £3,423. It's a Gothic Revival church with a northwest turret and spire. A chancel was added in 1870. It's now a redundant church and has been turned into flats. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Horwich, Greater Manchester

Designed by Francis Octavius Bedford and built from 1830 to 1831, this church received £5,621. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Todmorden, West Yorkshire

Built by Lewis Vulliamy from 1830 to 1831, this church received £3,379. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1885. It became a redundant church in 1992 and was turned into homes in 2003. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Divine's Church, Pemberton, Greater Manchester

Designed by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson and built from 1830 to 1832, this church received £4,913. It's a Gothic Revival church with turrets. It's a Grade II listed building.

St James' Church, Benwell, Tyne and Wear

Built by John Dobson from 1831 to 1832, this church received £1,700. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1895. It's a Grade II listed building.

St George's Church, Hyde, Greater Manchester

Designed by T. and C. Atkinson and built from 1831 to 1832, this church received £4,788. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

St David's Church, Haigh, Greater Manchester

Built by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson from 1831 to 1833, this church received £3,433. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Baptist's Church, Smallbridge, Greater Manchester

Designed by Lewis Vulliamy and built from 1831 to 1833, this church received £3,253. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Croft, Cheshire

Built by Edward Blore from 1832 to 1833, this church received £1,457. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Baptist's Church, Bollington, Cheshire

Designed by William Hayley and Thomas Brown and built from 1832 to 1834, this church received £3,475. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. A gallery was added in 1854. The church is now redundant. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Clement's Church, Spotland, Greater Manchester

Built by Lewis Vulliamy from 1832 to 1834, this church received £4,056. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Thomas' Church, Norbury, Greater Manchester

Designed by William Hayley and Thomas Brown and built from 1833 to 1834, this church received £2,000. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Burnley, Lancashire

Built by Lewis Vulliamy from 1835 to 1836, this church received £1,168. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It was damaged by fire and then converted into flats. It's a Grade II listed building.

Churches Built Between 1838 and 1856

Christ Church, Adlington, Lancashire

Built by Edward Welch in 1838, this church received £400. It's in the Neo-Norman style, which looks like old Norman buildings. It is now a restaurant. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Mary's Church, Newton, Greater Manchester

Designed by William Hayley and Thomas Brown and built in 1838, this church received £1,018. It's in the Neo-Norman style with turrets. A chancel was added in 1876–77. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Evangelist's Church, Dukinfield, Greater Manchester

Built by Edmund Sharpe from 1838 to 1840, this church received £2,599. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

St George's Church, Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Designed by Edmund Sharpe and built from 1838 to 1840, this church received £2,712. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

All Souls Church, Ancoats, Manchester

Built by William Hayley from 1839 to 1840, this church received £1,000. It's in the Neo-Norman style, made of brick with two towers. It became redundant in 1981 and is now a workshop. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton, Lancashire

Designed by Edmund Sharpe and built from 1839 to 1840, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Paul's Church, Farington, Lancashire

Built by Edmund Sharpe from 1839 to 1841, this church received £500. It's in the Romanesque Revival style. A chancel was added in 1909. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Catharine's Church, Scholes, Greater Manchester

Designed by Edmund Sharpe and built from 1840 to 1841, this church received £962. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Alban's Church, Heworth, Tyne and Wear

Built by Thomas Liddell from 1841 to 1842, this church received £200. It's a Gothic Revival church with a belfry. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Pelton, County Durham

Designed by George Jackson and built from 1841 to 1842, this church received £300. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Matthew's Church, Stretford, Greater Manchester

Built by William Hayley from 1841 to 1842, this church received £300. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It was made bigger in 1861, and a chancel was added in 1906. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Bartholomew's Church, Thornley, County Durham

Designed by Robert Dunlop and built in 1842, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a belfry. A chancel was added later in the 19th century. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Paul's Church, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Built by William Hayley from 1843 to 1844, this church received £1,000. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Blackburn, Lancashire

Designed by Edmund Sharpe and built from 1843 to 1845, this church received £1,519. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Heaton Norris, Greater Manchester

Built by William Hayley from 1843 to 1849, this church received £500. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower and steeple. It was damaged by fire in 1977 and mostly pulled down, except for the tower and some walls. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Peter's Church, Blackley, Greater Manchester

Designed by E. H. Shellard and built from 1844 to 1845, this church received £700. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It was made bigger in 1880. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St James the Great, Morpeth, Northumberland

Built by Benjamin Ferrey from 1844 to 1846, this church received £5,435. It's in the Neo-Norman style with a central tower. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Thomas' Church, Lees, Greater Manchester

Designed by E. H. Shellard and built from 1844 to 1848, this church received £850. It's in the Gothic Revival style. A tower was added in 1865, and the church was made bigger in 1885. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St John's Church, Failsworth, Greater Manchester

Built by E. H. Shellard from 1845 to 1846, this church received £500. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west steeple. A tower was added in 1878, and it was restored in the 20th century. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Rainow, Cheshire

Designed by Samuel Howard and built from 1845 to 1846, this church received £400. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Stephen's Church, Audenshaw, Greater Manchester

Built by E. H. Shellard from 1845 to 1847, this church received £500. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1900. It's a Grade II listed building.

St James' Church, Shaw and Crompton, Greater Manchester

Designed by Joseph Clarke and built from 1845 to 1849, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a southwest tower. It was restored in 1876. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

Built by Dickson and Breakspear from 1846 to 1847, this church received £300. It's a Gothic Revival church made of brick with an east bell gable. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Mary's Church, Droylsden, Greater Manchester

Designed by E. H. Shellard and built from 1846 to 1848, this church received £500. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Baptist's Church, Heaton Mersey, Greater Manchester

Built by Peter Walker from 1846 to 1850, this church received £150. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. A chancel was added in 1891. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Mark's Church, Antrobus, Cheshire

Built by George Gilbert Scott in 1847, this church received £80. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Evangelist's Church, Byley, Cheshire

Designed by John Matthews and built in 1847, this church received £75. It's in the Neo-Norman style, made of brick with an open roof. A tower was added later. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Walker, Tyne and Wear

Built by Alfred Higham in 1847, this church received £1,222. It's a Gothic Revival church with a southeast tower. It's a Grade II* listed building.

St Mark's Church, Bredbury, Greater Manchester

Designed by E. H. Shellard and built from 1847 to 1848, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Coldhurst, Greater Manchester

Built by E. H. Shellard from 1847 to 1848, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell tower. It was made bigger between 1887 and 1891. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John's Church, Darlington, County Durham

Designed by John Middleton and built from 1847 to 1848, this church received £150. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John's Church, Hurst, Greater Manchester

Built by E. H. Shellard from 1847 to 1849, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It was made bigger in 1862. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Peter's Church, Minshull Vernon, Cheshire

Designed by John Matthews and built around 1847–48, this church received £150. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It was made bigger in 1902. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Michael's Church, Rawtenstall, Lancashire

Built by Joseph Clarke from 1847 to 1849, this church received £300. It's a Gothic Revival church with a tower. It is now closed and has been converted into a house. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Evangelist's Church, Birtley, Tyne and Wear

Designed by George Pickering and built in 1848, this church received £200. It's in the Neo-Norman style with an apse (a rounded end). It was made bigger between 1887 and 1889. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Seghill, Northumberland

Built by John Green in 1848, this church received £1,624. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Mark's Church, Dukinfield, Greater Manchester

Designed by Joseph Clarke and built from 1848 to 1849, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church with a northwest tower. The tower was replaced in 1881, and other changes were made in 1887. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Denton, Greater Manchester

Built by George Gilbert Scott from 1848 to 1853, this church received £250. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Baptist's Church, Godley, Greater Manchester

Designed by E. H. Shellard and built in 1849, this church received £400. It's in the Gothic Revival style. A west tower was added in 1878. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Peter's Church, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Built by Charles and James Trubshaw in 1849, this church received £257. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Cuthbert's Church, Benfieldside, County Durham

Designed by John Dobson and built from 1849 to 1850, this church received £200. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It was made bigger between 1881 and 1886. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Peter's Church, Chorley, Lancashire

Built by Charles Reed from 1849 to 1850, this church received £250. It's in the Gothic Revival style. Transepts (parts of the church that stick out like arms) were added in 1911. It's a Grade II listed building.

Christ Church, Healey, Greater Manchester

Designed by George Shaw and built from 1849 to 1850, this church received £150. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It's a Grade II listed building.

St John the Evangelist's Church, Kingsley, Cheshire

Built by George Gilbert Scott from 1849 to 1850, this church received £150. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

Holy Trinity Church, Hartlepool, County Durham

Designed by John Middleton and built from 1850 to 1851, this church received £250. It's a Gothic Revival church without a tower. It was changed in 1864 and 1891. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Thomas' Church, Helmshore, Lancashire

Built by E. H. Shellard from 1850 to 1851, this church received £200. It's a Gothic Revival church with a west tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Saviour's Church, Ringley, Greater Manchester

Designed by Sharpe and Paley and built from 1850 to 1854, this church received £200. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It replaced an older church, keeping only its small tower. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Thomas' Church, Werneth, Greater Manchester

Built by Andrew Trimen and George Shaw from 1853 to 1855, this church received £125. It's in the Gothic Revival style. It was made bigger in 1868 and the 1880s. It's a Grade II listed building.

St Paul's Church, Paddington, Salford, Greater Manchester

Designed by E. H. Shellard and built from 1855 to 1856, this church received £220. It's a Gothic Revival church with a bell turret.

St Luke's Church, Manchester

Built by T. W. Atkinson from 1836 to 1839, this church is in the Gothic Revival style. It is currently derelict (in a very bad state of repair). It's a Grade II listed building.

Images for kids

• St Peter, Blackburn, Lancashire

  St Peter, Blackburn (demolished)

• St John, Workington, Cumbria

  St John, Workington (no image available)

• St Matthew, Campfield, Manchester

  St Matthew, Campfield (demolished)

• St Mary, West Rainton, County Durham

  St Mary, West Rainton (rebuilt)

• St Martin in the Fields, Liverpool, Merseyside

  St Martin in the Fields, Liverpool (demolished)

• St Mary, Birch, Greater Manchester

  St Mary, Birch (demolished)

• St James, Lower Darwen, Lancashire

  St James, Lower Darwen (rebuilt)

• St Patrick, Winlaton, Tyne and Wear

  St Patrick, Winlaton (no image available)

• St Thomas, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

  St Thomas, Bishopwearmouth (demolished)

• Christ Church, Carlisle, Cumbria

  Christ Church, Carlisle (demolished)

• Holy Trinity, Carlisle, Cumbria

  Holy Trinity, Carlisle (demolished)

• St Paul, Warrington, Cheshire

  St Paul, Warrington (demolished)

• St Andrew, Travis Street, Manchester

  St Andrew, Travis Street (demolished)

• Holy Trinity, North Shields, Tyne and Wear

  Holy Trinity, North Shields (demolished)

• St John the Baptist, Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside

  St John the Baptist, Toxteth (bombed)

• St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear

  St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole (replaced)

• St Matthias, Liverpool, Merseyside

  St Matthias, Liverpool (burnt down)

• St Paul, Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester

  St Paul, Ramsbottom (no image available)

• St John the Baptist, Birtle, Greater Manchester

  St John the Baptist, Birtle (no image available)

• St Peter, Elworth, Cheshire

  St Peter, Elworth (no image available)

• St Simon, Salford, Greater Manchester

  St Simon, Salford (partly demolished)

• St James, Burnley, Lancashire

  St James, Burnley (demolished)

• All Saints, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

  All Saints, Monkwearmouth (no image available)

• St Mark, Antrobus, Cheshire

  St Mark, Antrobus (no image available)

• St John, Shuttleworth, Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester

  St John, Shuttleworth (no image available)

• St James, Congleton, Cheshire

  St James, Congleton (no image available)

• St Paul, Danebridge, Cheshire

  St Paul, Danebridge (demolished)

• St Paul, Portwood, Stockport, Greater Manchester

  St Paul, Portwood (demolished)

• St Margaret, Prestwich, Greater Manchester

  St Margaret, Prestwich (no image available)

• St Paul, Hendon, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

  St Paul, Hendon (demolished)

• St Mark, Hulme, Greater Manchester

  St Mark, Hulme (demolished)

• St Paul, Burnley, Lancashire

  St Paul, Burnley (demolished)

• St Alban, Pinfold, Rochdale, Greater Manchester

  St Alban, Pinfold (demolished)

• All Souls, Vauxhall, Liverpool, Merseyside

  All Souls, Vauxhall (demolished)

See also

• List of Commissioners' churches in eastern England
• List of Commissioners' churches in the English Midlands
• List of Commissioners' churches in London
• List of Commissioners' churches in southwest England
• List of Commissioners' churches in Wales
• List of Commissioners' churches in Yorkshire