Local Churches

Friar. Edmund Arrowsmith, born Haydock 1585, died Lancaster 1628.

10 February 202611 February 2026 Steven Dowd

A True and Exact Relation of the Death of Friar. Edmund Arrowsmith, a Priest of the Society of Jesus. When God, who is wonderful in his Saints, manifests their Glory by wonderful Works of his almighty Hand, at the same time that he declares their Merit, he recommends their Virtues to our Imitation. To be silent, after God has spoke the Worth of his Saints by Miracles, appears ungrateful; not to join with the Voice of Heaven in publishing their Sanctity, betrays a Disregard to the extraordinary Effects of his…

St Oswald’s Ashton-in-Makerfield

8 February 20268 February 2026 Steven Dowd

THE CHURCH OF ‘THE HOLY HAND‘ “The church of the Holy Hand” – that is how the Catholics of south-west Lancashire refer to the Catholic Church at Ashton-in-Makerfield. The ‘Holy Hand’ belonged to Edmund Arrowsmith, one of the Forty Martyrs canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25th, 1970. Childhood Studies and Ordination Jesuit Betrayal Trial Prison Last Words Aftermath Apparition The Hand…

St Peters, Burials – 1813 to 1901

6 February 20266 February 2026 Steven Dowd

I have added the data and images for the Burials at St Peters Church on Newton-le-Willows High Street, for the years 1813 to 1901. The images from three original church burials books were transcribed almost 20 years ago by some of the fabulous members of the original message forum which was originally a part of this website back in 2007. The St Peters Burials which I have added are fully searchable, you can search by any part of a name, or by year. I am not sure that even now…

St Peters Church

5 May 201222 December 2013 Steven Dowd

Below are a few images that show some of the many changes made to St Peters over the years. St Peters Church (approx 1835) This picture of St Peters is from about the year 1835 and clearly shows the Church without its bell tower, also visible in this image, standing to the left side of the church is the obelisk which was later removed to the centre of Earlestown Market, where it still stands. St Peters Church (approx 1910) In this lower of the two images you can clearly see…

Congregational Church on Crow Lane

22 September 200922 December 2013 Steven Dowd

Whilst the old Congregational Church on Crow Lane is being rebuilt into apartments, I thought this would be the right time, to add into the website some of the information I have about it, from various sources. The Congregational Church (new), Crow Lane, c1915The first recorded preaching of the Gospel, in Newton, by a Congregational minister is given in the “Memoirs of the Rev. William Alexander,” written by his son, the Rev. John Alexander, Minister of Princes Street Chapel, Norwich, and published, in 1856, by Fletcher and Alexander of that…

ST. John the Baptist, Earlestown Parish Church

15 May 200722 December 2013 Steven Dowd

Canon Whitley, Rector of Newton-in-Makerfield, recognised that the population of Earlestown was growing and there was a need for their own Parish Church. On May 27,1874, Canon Whitley, called a meeting at which it was decided to build a new church in the Earlestown area. The Original Design by Whitley & Fry of Dover The original plans for the Church were drawn up by Messrs. Whitley & Fry of Dover and they produced a design for a building in Early English style to seat 900 persons and costing an esitmated…

Local Church build dates

20 June 200622 December 2013 Steven Dowd

Found these dates for the building of local churches, thought the info could add to the local data available on the website. 1864 St. Mary & Johns (RC) 1866 the Wesleyan Chapel 1872 the Primitive Methodist Chapel 1878 St. Johns and the Congregational Church 1881 the Baptist Church

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