No. 26 of 112 · Bolton
St Peters Bolton Parish Church
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Sources
Bolton Parish Church, Discover: construction, surviving objects and visitor activities. https://boltonparishchurch.co.uk/discover/ Official parish homepage confirms Church of England affiliation. https://boltonparishchurch.co.uk/ The precise date of the earliest church remains unknown. Listing grade and site coordinates have not been independently rechecked.
History & description
St Peter's, Bolton Parish Church, is a Victorian Gothic church built of Longridge stone to a design by E. G. Paley. Its foundation stone was laid on 27 April 1867 and the church was consecrated on 29 June 1871. Peter Ormrod funded the new building.
A much older site
The present building replaced a medieval church, itself preceded by earlier worship on the site. A tenth-century Saxon cross survives in the west porch, although it does not establish an exact foundation date for the first church. Objects retained from the old building include a Jacobean lectern and wooden altar, along with fifteenth-century seating.
What to look for
The 55-metre tower is a prominent part of Bolton's skyline. The church's musical life includes an organ, bellringing and recitals. The parish offers guided visits by arrangement; use its website to check tours and current visiting opportunities.
