St Stephen and All Martyrs' Church, Lever Bridge

St Stephen and All Martyrs' Church is a Gothic Revival parish church in Darcy Lever constructed primarily from terracotta bricks with elaborate decorative elements. The structure features ornamental friezes, inscriptions, and blind arcades on both its exterior and interior walls.

The church was designed by architect Edmund Sharpe in 1842 and built between 1842 and 1844 using terracotta bricks from the Ladyshore Coal and TerraCotta Company. The construction represented an innovative approach to parish church building in the region.

The church serves as a gathering place for local youth groups and community activities held in its hall spaces. It holds significance for the parish and remains central to neighborhood life.

The building is accessible on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons, with extended visiting hours during the Open Heritage Weekend in September. Visitors should confirm availability in advance as community groups regularly use the hall spaces.

The building is nicknamed the Pot Church and stands as one of only three churches in northern England constructed primarily from terracotta. This rare building method was experimental at the time and made the project a notable example of 19th-century architecture.

Location: Bolton

Inception: 1844

Architects: Edmund Sharpe

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://achurchnearyou.com/lever-bridge-st-stephen-all-martyrs

GPS coordinates: 53.57220,-2.40510

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:09