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The Church of St Mary, Lowton
in the County of
-- Lancashire --

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The story of the church begins around the year 1850 with the building of Knott’s Mill when a number of Anglican families moved into the area. They had a long journey to attend the nearest church, St. Luke’s, as all of Lowton was one parish at that time. However, for their convenience, services and a Sunday school were held in what is now a public house — the Church Inn.

But it wasn't long before William J. Leigh, who was M.P. for South Lancashire, saw the need for a Church and a School in the area and he gave the site for the Church and the old school. Miss Mary Leigh of Hale, near Liverpool, offered to be the Patroness and provided most of the money for the buildings. She was a descendant of a Mr. Leigh, a tanner, who lived at Lowton Hall Farm in the 18th century, and she had inherited the estate.

St Mary, Lowton St Mary's Church, Lowton
Photograph by kind permission and
© of Frances Holcroft, 2010
St Mary, Lowton St Mary, Lowton
Photograph by kind permission and
© of Lesley Orrell, 2010

The Church was consecrated in 1861, and structurally it has remained more or less unaltered since then.

A full history can be found on the Church's website, from which these notes are reproduced by kind permission of the author, Mrs Olive Hughes.

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