St John's Church, Rawtenstall

St John's Church is a sandstone building designed in the Gothic Revival style with a nave flanked by low aisles, a chancel, and double transepts. The tower at the southwest corner was never completed, giving the structure its distinctive silhouette.

The church was built in 1890 by the Lancaster architectural firm Sharpe, Paley and Austin for a growing industrial community. It was designed during an era of significant expansion in the region's manufacturing and population.

The building demonstrates how religious spaces transform to serve changing community needs. It reflects shifts in how people in industrial Lancashire organized their public and spiritual life.

The building is no longer in active religious use and serves a different purpose today. Check beforehand what access is available or whether the space can be visited, as its status may affect visiting arrangements.

The incomplete tower at the southwest corner was intended to be finished but construction was never completed. Some of its original stained glass windows were removed and now reside in Vancouver Cathedral across the Atlantic.

Location: Rossendale

Inception: 1890

Architects: Sharpe, Paley and Austin

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 53.70035,-2.27342

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:00