Somerset Road United Reformed Church And Attached Sunday School

BOLTON

SD60NE SOMERSET ROAD 797-1/3/219 (West side) Somerset Road United Reformed Church and attached Sunday School

II

Presbyterian church, now United Reformed church and attached Sunday School. c1910. Coursed and squared rubble in small blocks, the dark principal stone contrasted with paler dressings and some use of ashlar. Red plain tiled roof. EXTERIOR: at entrance front a decorated arched doorway flanked by 2-light traceried mullioned windows with 5-light reticulated traceried window above the door. Octagonal tower clasping the left hand angle, with embattled parapet, a band of windows, and louvred bell chamber openings below the parapet. Formerly surmounted by a spire, removed c1950. Tower is balanced by canted full-height bay at left hand angle with high band of windows immediately below eaves, and these windows, together with those to tower, have stained glass with simple art-nouveau motifs. Main body of church divided into 2 bays by buttresses, each bay with 2-light Decorated windows, also with Art Nouveau motifs in the glazing. 2-bay shallow transepts each side. Canted apse (blind) with long raking roof. INTERIOR: narrow entrance lobby with timber and glazed screen separating it from the body of the church (screen re-positioned 1997). Wide span with hammerbeam roof and arched braced arcade. Triple arched west wall, the central arch opening to canted apse now occupied by organ, the outer arches blind. Hall or Sunday School is linked by a corridor range to the church, and contemporary with it. Central arched entrance door flanked by foiled 2-light windows. Wide arched 3-light upper window. 2-window returns, then an advanced bay each side, adjoining the corridor range on the inner side, and continuing on the upper side to house additional room to rear of hall. 2-light mullioned and transomed windows, some retaining original leaded glazing similar to that in church.

Listing NGR: SD6972009591