It is a heaven sent opportunity for a sensitive developer. Built in a Gothic Revival style and designed by the architect who created Manchester Town Hall it is passed by thousands of drivers every day.
When opened it had a chapel big enough to accomodate more than 800 plus a vestry and a schoolroom. But as the congregation has dwindled over the decades the building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, has now like many churches across the country gone up for sale. It has an asking price of £750,000. "The church consists of the chapel, a large hall, community rooms, and a kitchen. It is very large, people are surprised by its size when they come in."
In his 1962 book "Pilkington Park: An Account of Whitefield and Besses o' th' Ban and their parish", Thomas Holt, wrote: "The idea was at once taken up by six students," two of them secured an old cottage to hold services, and "on the first Sunday morning the attendance was five, the afternoon 67, and the evening 110." An adjoining cottage had to be used to cope with the numbers turning up.
Holt wrote: "It can truthfully be said that the church has played a great part in the growth and development of Besses o' th' Barn, but it has needed long and sustained efforts in the different activities carried on, and the many bazaars and sales of work, concerts, etc during a long number of years to do this.
The report added: "The general style of the buildings will be Gothic and they will be of brick with stone facings. There will be three galleries, and behind the pulpit will be an organ chamber, librarian’s rooms, and vestry. Over these rooms will be an infants’ school which will be 78 feet by 33 feet, and will afford accommodation for between 500 and 600 children, and the chapel will accommodate 823 people.