A good mid-nineteenth century Gothic Revival church by an established London architect. The architectural forms are conventional, but there are some original qualities to the design, such as the west window. The interior has been reordered more than once, including furnishings by F.X. Velarde.

Newton is an old settlement which expanded very rapidly after the building of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830.  Rapid industrialisation followed, later bringing a considerable Irish population. The Catholics of Newton-le-Willows were served by the mission at St Oswald’s in Ashton from the early 1820s. In 1861 Fr John Lennon was appointed as the first priest of a new mission in Newton. A site for a new church was given by Lord Newton; the site was a piece of waste ground containing a clay pit and the new church was built on the south bank of the pit. The architect was Gilbert R. Blount of London, not E. Blount as stated in the list description. The spire was added in 1880.

The church is described in the list entry, below. Additional points:

• The church is built of Upholland stone with red sandstone stone dressings
• The spherical triangle west window is unusually large
• The Lady altar was installed in 1920
• The church was part refurbished in the 1950s by F.X. Velarde and the nave altar and hanging rood are by him. HIs triptych over the altar has been removed
• The Stations of the Cross are by David John
• Church and presbytery are linked by extensive single-storey sacristies leading from the southeast corner of the church. The presbytery was enlarged 1899-1900.

List description

Catholic church. 1864, spire 1880. By E Blount. Rock-faced stone with ashlar dressings, slate roof. Nave with aisles under lean-to roofs, NW steeple, chancel with flanking gabled chapels. Tower has setback buttresses and lancets; paired lancet bell openings; splayed spire. West end has pointed entrance and spherical triangle window. 6-bay nave has paired lancet aisle windows and triple lancet clerestory windows; one squat buttress to north, and confessionals and vestry to south. Canted chancel has clasping buttresses and cornice with animal heads, windows of 2 lights. Interior: Arches between chapels and chancel and aisles, on corbels in form of busts including S.S. Mary and John and contemporary bishop and pope. Reredoses to chapels remain, that to chancel removed.

Entry amended by AHP 13.03.2026

Heritage Details