Former Baptist Church

This is a former Baptist church, disused at the time of inspection in September 1998. It was built in 1907 and has undergone alterations in the late 20th century. Designed by Bradshaw and Gass, an architectural practice based in Bolton, the church is constructed of smooth red brick with terra-cotta dressings, decorative banding, and a Welsh slated roof.

The front (west) elevation features a central doorway bay topped with a wide segmental pediment. Flanking bays have parapets and a moulded cornice. The doorway has a moulded surround and open pediment, above which is a tall central window flanked by columns and with a blind semi-circular head. Flanking bays contain shallow pilasters framing a narrow lancet, creating a giant Venetian window above the door head band course. The church has half-glazed double doors with curved heads and windows subdivided into small panes. There are set-back end bays with parapets, and the returns feature two-light windows to the upper level and previously single-storeyed rooms at the angles of the front and side ranges.

The north side elevation has a segmental pediment over the central transept gable, incorporating a central Venetian gallery window above a tripartite ground-floor opening, flanked by broad flat pilasters. Lower bays have parapets, with a canted bay window on the ground floor and a Diocletian window above one side. Two bays to the right also have a matching Diocletian window and ground-floor windows, all with heads set within a wide band course. The south side elevation has a wide central transept gable incorporating a Venetian window.

The interior is fully-galleried, although the seating has been removed except for surviving benches to the west gallery. There's a continuous curved panelled front to the galleries, and a canted panelled pulpit with flanking stairs is located at the west end of the wall, alongside panelled doors leading to former vestries. The main staircase to the galleries has flat straight and curved balusters. The church has a shallow vaulted ceiling with a massive quadripartite vault, the segments of which are glazed and contain stained glass with Art Nouveau decoration.

This early 20th-century Baptist Church is of distinctive form, designed by an architectural practice of national reputation. Despite minor alterations, it remains an important part of a prominent and well-preserved municipal grouping.