Oldham Parish Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oldham Parish Church
Oldham Parish Church Location in Greater Manchester
53°32′33″N 2°06′40″W / 53.5426°N 2.1111°W / 53.5426; -2.1111
Location	Oldham, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Status	Active
Founded	1280 (1280)
Architecture
Functional status	Parish Church
Architect(s)	Richard Lane
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1830
Specifications
Bells	13
Tenor bell weight	35-0-4 (1780kg)
Administration
Parish	Oldham
Diocese	Manchester
Province	York

The Church of St Mary with St Peter, often called Oldham Parish Church, is a special church in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is a "parish church," which means it serves a local area or community. It is also a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.

History of the Church

A church has stood on this spot since the year 1280. Back then, it was a small chapel. This chapel served the nearby towns of Oldham, Chadderton, Royton, and Crompton.

From Chapel to Church

Later, in the 1400s, a larger church was built. It was designed in an old style called Early English Gothic. This style is known for its tall arches and detailed stone work.

The Industrial Revolution and New Beginnings

During the Industrial Revolution, Oldham grew very quickly. In 1714, fewer than 2,000 people lived there. By 1831, the population had exploded to over 32,000! Because so many more people lived in Oldham, the church needed to be much bigger.

So, a decision was made to build a completely new church. The original plan was to spend about £5,000. However, the final cost ended up being £30,000. A large part of this money was spent on building the church's underground area, called the crypt.

Some other designs for the church were suggested by Sir Charles Barry. He was a famous architect who later designed the Palace of Westminster in London. Even though some people now think his designs were better, they were not chosen for Oldham Parish Church.

In 1805, the churchyard was made larger. A nearby road, Church Lane, Oldham, was changed so it no longer went all the way through town. Another part of the road, Church Street, was lowered by six feet. It became an extension of a new area called Church Terrace.

The Current Building

The church you see today was finished in 1830. It was designed by Richard Lane, an architect from Manchester. He designed it in the Gothic Revival Style. This style brings back the look of medieval Gothic churches.

Oldham Parish Church was once closely connected to St Mary's Church in Prestwich. Together, they were the main churches for the ancient area known as Prestwich-cum-Oldham.

Church Bells

The church has a set of twelve bells that can be rung together. These bells were made in 1922 by a company called John Taylor & Co in Loughborough. In 1978, another bell was added. The church also still has its very first bell, which was made way back in 1722 by Abraham Rudhall II of Gloucester.

See also

• Listed buildings in Oldham
• List of churches in Greater Manchester
• History of Oldham