St Thomas' Church, Halliwell

The church was built in 1874–75 to serve the growing local population, and was designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin. The main benefactors were the Cross family, mill owners who lived nearby at Mortfield; Thomas Cross donated the site for the church, a school, and a vicarage, together with £1,000. The reredos was given by his son, James Percival Cross. The church marked an early use by the architects of brick on such a large scale. For its size it was relatively inexpensive, costing £6,400 (equivalent to £|r=-4}}}} as of ), and providing seating for 849 people. It was consecrated in July 1875 by the Rt Revd James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester. A Lady Chapel was created in…

The arcades have five bays, with round piers, leaf-and-crocket capitals, and brick arches. The internal surfaces of the church are in plain brick almost throughout, the exception being the east wall below the level of the windows. This wall consists of tiles set in brick recesses, depicting features such as fleur-de-lis, angels, and the Instruments of the Passion. The rectangular pulpit is of stone with marble shafts and an acanthus frieze. The sanctuary is floored with encaustic tiles. In the chancel is a piscina and a sedilia, both with segmental arches. The wooden reredos dates from 1893 and contains linenfold panels, flower motifs, figures of the apostles under canopies, and a low…