Rivington Church

Rivington Church 1996

Village 1904

Rivington Church is located off Horrobin Lane, Rivington, Lancashire, England and is an active place of Anglican worship. The Church has been designated as a Grade II* Listed building ¹⁾. The Church has no patron saint and is not named after any saint or martyr, it has been variously called St. Lawrence, St. George, Holy Trinity, and St. Catherine, but it's correct title is Rivington Church. The Church has been rebuilt a number of times over the centuries with extensive repairs in the Victorian period.²⁾The Rivington Brass band rehearsed at the Church Hall between 1864 and 1884, the band is now well known as the Rivington and Adlington Brass Band and likewise juniors. ³⁾ The Heath Charnock Womens' Institute meats at the Church Hall 7.30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.

A plain Font, from the Garden of Brownlows, Anderton was given to the Rev. G.E. Owen by Charles Sixsmith of Anderton, it is thought to be Saxon in origin, it is now housed in the Millennium Room at the Church.⁴⁾ The arched window on the north side is cut from one piece of stone consistent with a Saxon building. ⁵⁾

The earliest documented reference to the Church land is a pre-reformation deed of 1280 that mentions three acres of terra ecclesiastical⁶⁾ in Rivington, the deed also mentions Rounpik and KnollShaw. ⁷⁾⁸⁾ According to the Great Inquest of 1212, Alexander Pilkington held his land in Rivington of a thane, a pre-Conquest form of tenure.⁹⁾¹⁰⁾. The Fernylee and chapel croft are named in a grant by Margaret Pilkington and her son Robert in 1476. On 26th January 1478 at the Lancashire Inquisition Post Mortem of Ralph Pilkington, husband of Margaret jurors stated he had held  a tenement in Rivington known as 'Chapell Croft'. It was this Robert Pilkington who built the first Wattle and Daub Rivington Hall in 1476 on the death of his father Ralph.¹²⁾

In a petition of 1628 the locals testified that they, the people of Rivington, Anglezarke, Hempshaw, and Folds built a chapel 'upon a little toft and quillet of land' where divine service was celebrated 'for many years of antiquity.' On the division of the Manorial waste in 1536 land was allotted to the chapel for 'the use of a priest at Rivington chapel for evermore.'

The chancel and two porches were added in 1666, stained glass windows are Victorian and were installed by the firm of John Hardman of Birmingham who had some of their work designed by Edward Burne-Jones.¹¹⁾ 

The Church was rebuilt by the inhabitants and consecrated by Bishop Bird of Chester in 1541, led Richard Pilkington, of Rivington Hall, in his inquisition of office stated that he was in possession of one messuage and one tenement with an attached chapel yard and chapel in Rivington. The Church is referred to in the founding charter of the school of 1566 reaffirming an existing Church. Thomas Breres and Robert Lever laid claim to the Church and Churchyard of Rivington in 1628, so a Petition was sent by Richard Simm, Churchwarden, and other inhabitants to Bishop Bridgeman of Chester, pointing out that long 1551, the inhabitants had built the said chapel upon a little toft¹³⁾ and quillet¹⁴⁾ of land at their own expense, and had worshipped there for many years of antiquity Bishop Bridgeman recognised the validity of the Petitioner protest, and dismissed the claim of Breres and Lever. The Church was rebuilt in 1666, the north wall was retained, an addition of an inward jutting porch was added in 1861.

The Church building features irregularly coursed sandstone with large quoins, slate roof. The church features a Nave with a south porch and north vestry, chancel. The church is a small plain building with 3 square-headed 3-light windows on each side, the lights on the south side round-headed and those on the north side square-headed, nineteenth century gabled porch between the centre and western windows on the south side, modern vestry in equivalent position on north side. The West gable wall has a wide elliptical-headed doorway and an octagonal bell turret with square base partly corbelled out and a conical roof with tall weather vane. The Chancel has a window of 3 round-headed lights in each side and a segmental-headed east window of 5 lights.

 The story of the bell is linked closely to national events and the reformation, in 1531 Henry VIII had declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, the Royal Coat of Arms had to be displayed in Churches, a tax was levied called First Fruits and Tenths, and 1/10 of annual parish profits went to the state. Dissolution of the Monasteries began in 1536 and by 1540 all Monastic houses of England were closed, Burscough was destroyed in this period, Church land was sold off.

At Rivington Church the detached bell house, the only such building in Lancashire is reputed to have been created to hold a large three hundred weight bell (360lb = 163.293kg) bought by Richard Pilkington from Wigan Church in 1542. England had become clearly protestant by the time of Edward VI, in 1547 with chantries and religious guilds dissolved. In 1548 took place destruction of images, wall-paintings were whitewashed over, statues and rood-screens removed, Lady chapels shut and put to other uses. The Act of Uniformity in 1549 rendered obsolete valuables used in church service, providing an excuse for a Crown confiscation of church goods in 1552, this plundering also occurred at Rivington.

Mystery of  Missing Church Bell

As part of this plundering of 1552 an inventory was taken of items at the church, which the King ordered to be sold and money sent to the Crown, this raisied 3s 1d at Rivington. The bell was not listed and monies sent to the crown did not reflect its sale.  Government men arrived in 1554 to enquire of the bells and to seek the funds, at the time having a scrap value of 45s, in response the Church said the bell  had been taken by the Kings Men. The bell is today missing. The Bell House is now used as a tool house by the sexton and grave digger and is a Grade II listed sandstone square single-storey building with a basement and stone slate roof. ¹⁵⁾,¹⁶⁾

Richard Pilkington, father of James Pilkington who later became Bishop had appealed to Doctor Bird, the Lord Bishop of Chester, to dedicate the Chapel and Chapelyard to God for holy and divine service, and the same was consecrated October 1541 by the said Lord Bishop.

The Church was reaffirmed in the foundation charter of Rivington School in a Royal Patent, 1566 at the petition of James Pilkington first protestant Bishop of Durham. The patent was granted to create both the church and school at Rivington as The Free School of Queen Elizabeth I, taking the villages of Rovington (now known as Rivington), Anglezarke, Hemshaw and Foulds into an overall administrative area.

Great seal of Elizabeth I

There are early graves under the wooden floor of the Church, one of whom is Richard Pilkyngton.¹⁷⁾ Records indicate the local population had built an unofficial chapel on the site long before the foundation charter.

The earliest gravestone now in the churchyard is marked 1616. The earliest memorial in the church is dated 1627. Records show the chapel of ease was much earlier as at the time of consecration as inhabitants stated on oath they had used this site for generations. Cheshire Archives and Local Studies holds documents describing the Churchwardens of Rivington obligations to pay towards the repair of Bolton church ¹⁸⁾ The church was rebuilt in 1666 with alterations and restoration in the late nineteenth century. The present north wall is the original wall of the building.¹⁹⁾

The Headless Cross located in Grimeford Village, Anderton²⁰⁾ is pre conquest and is a well known local landmark and scheduled monument ²¹⁾ that was found and then displayed at Rivington Church. The cross was split up between 1853 and 1855. Around 1865 the lower parts of the monument were moved to Ridgmont House, Horwich and its corona or crown was used in a Catholic Chapel at Euxton, Chorley.²²⁾ Early in the twentieth century the cross spent some time at Leverhulmes Bungalow adapted as a Sun Dial. It was moved to its current position after the death of 1st Viscount Leverhulme in 1925,²³⁾ with its corona or crown still missing, to be known thereafter as the headless cross.

The Lynch gate was erected in 1929, in 1925 the stones near the church Lych Gate entrance were placed there after the death of the first W.H Lever, first Lord Leverhulme by Mr Mulligan who was caretaker of Rivington Hall with agreement of the second Viscount. W.H Lever, Lord Leverhulme had acquired the stones in 1907 for ornaments at his bungalow from Ridgmont House grounds and Moor Platt, Horwich. The stones had originally been collected by Joseph Ridgway (1745-1842) of Ridgmont House who collected the stones from the old Horwich parish Church when it was demolished and a new church built in 1831 where the stones remained during the time of the next owner John Longworth on who's death 1st of October, 1896 Ridgmont House and land from the Stoners estates was sold to W.H Lever, Lord Leverhulme moved the stones to his Bungalow on the slope of Rivington Pike as ornaments in 1907. On the stones being returned to the village the Vicar of Rivington, the Rev. J. Lovelady, and the Churchwarden, Mr. George N. Shawcross, asked for those of sacred origin to the churchyard and four were placed alongside the footpath just inside the gate of the Unitarian Chapel yard. ²⁴⁾ The stones kept at Ridgmont House remained there ²⁵⁾

One being a sculptured stone depicting the shack bolts from the arms of the Andertons and a crucified figure with 'Inri' above known as 'The Anderton Stone' that is believed be from Anderton Hall chapel. ²⁶⁾,²⁷⁾, ²⁸⁾ Above this stone is another carved with a Sator Square reading “SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS”.²⁹⁾

The interior features a roof of 4 collar trusses with bracing to tie-beams and collars; oak screen with some parts late medieval and late sixteenth century oak octagonal pulpit on a stem, with 2 linen-fold panels in each side. The earliest memorial in the church is dated 1627

The north wall is original and has a genealogical painting copied in 1835 from a copy of 1821 of a sixteenth century original relating to the Pilkington family. The original was damaged by fire in the Church 6th December 1834. A further feature is a eighteenth century brass chandelier with fluted body and two tiers of arms. The fine brass chandelier is from Stonor's Anderton Hall. In 1843 the Church chest was emptied and a box that was chained to the chest had been stolen the Charter of Foundation of the School was stolen, part of the Seal was recovered. ³⁰⁾, ³¹⁾

Rivington was created a Parish Church in 1856, and they could also select their own Minister, at their own cost, a privilege which only eleven churches in the country possessed.³²⁾ In 1861 a centre isle with Minton tiles, 5ft high wood paneling and the raised alter, with added railings, restoration of the rood screen and first small church organ, a new reading desk and canopy were added, costing £500. The present Church organ was put in place in 1869. By 1862 the Church had new pews replacing old box pews. The Prayer Book and Bible reads were presented in memory of the late Joseph and Mary Ainsworth by their daughters. At the west of the painting are the Royal Arms in gilt, a copy the Pilkington Picture of 1566 commission by the Church in 1835 was over the entrance to the vestry.  ³³⁾  The original measured 63 and a half inches by 43 inches and was sold in 1925 on the death of Leverhulme.from it's location at Rivington Hall which had been a museum from 1910 to 1925.

There are two Shaw memorial tablets and above the the Pulpit to Mr. John Shaw 1627 and George Shaw of Blackburn 1650 also a list of benefactions being Joseph Fielding, Thomas France, Mary Crostin, William Morris, Joseph Fielding, Mrs. Chamleyused for donations of land and lease payments generating income and notes the as Trustees C. J. Darbyshire Esq., Mr. John Howarth, Rivington. Mr. John Halliwell, Mr. William Berry, Anglezarke. Mr. John Dickinson, Mr. Henry Dickinson, Anderton. Mr. Henry Miller, Mr. Andrew Smith, Heath Charnock. There are three tablets on the South wall and the incumbent’s board. John Shaw who is buried near his plaque after his death the Headless Cross was moved to the Church then later it's current site in Anderton. ³⁴⁾

• 1692 Thomas Morris, of Anglezarch.
• 1693 John Darby shire, of Rivington.
• 1694 John Simm, of Rivington.
• 1695 John Simm, of Rivington.
• 1696 John Abbott, of Anglezarke.
• 1697 Thomas Reynolds for Mr. Briers.
• 1698 Thomas Entwistle, of Higher Knowl.
• 1701 Thomas Whalley, of Great House.
• 1702 Robert Cocker, of Great House.
• 1703 Richard Leigh, of Great House.
• 1704 Thomas Mather, of Jepsons in Anglezarke.
• 1705 George Brown, of Rivington.
• 1706 Henry Critchlor, of Rivington.
• 1707 Adam Pendlebury, of Lostock.
• 1708 Richard Leaster, of Anglezarke.
• 1709 James Worsley, of Rivington.
• 1710 W. H. Sweetlove, of Rivington.
• 1711 Roger Thropp, of Lostock.
• 1712 Roger Thropp, of Stone House, in Anglezark.
• 1713 John Nightingale, of Rivington.
• 1714 John Finch, of Jepsons, in Rivington,
• 1715 John Leigh, of Lostock.
• 1716 John Morris, of Jepson’s, in Anglezarke.
• 1717 John Brownlow, at Moor Edge.
• 1718 William Sharples, for Ainsworth’s, Rivington.
• 1719 Richard Snape, for Anglezarke.
• 1720 James Simm, for Peter Finch, Rivington.
• 1721 James Simm, for Peter Leigh, Rivington.
• 1722 John Wilson, for Anglezarke.
• 1723 Will. Sharples, for Bridle’s Tenement.
• 1724 Will. Sharples, for Pilkington’s.
• 1725 John Morris, for Brooke House.
• 1726 John Hamer, for Rivington.
• 1727 W. Sharples, for Bradley’s.
• 1728 Thomas Mather, for John Woodcock, Anglezark.
• 1729 Thomas Mather, for Mr. Turner, Anglezark.
• 1730 John Sefton, for New House, Rivington.
• 1731 Henry Ainsworth, for Chapel Warden, Rivington.
• 1732 Henry Ainsworth, “Chapel warden, Rivington.
• 1733 James Simm, “ Chapel Warden.”
• 1734 James Simm, “Churchwarden
• 1735 James Simm, for Rivington.
• 1736 James Simm, Reed, for Bur’ls. 00 03 00.
• 1737 John Isherwood, for Rivington. Attached is
• 1738 James Simm, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1739 Henry Latham, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1740 James Simm, for George Halliwell.
• 1741 James Simm, for Mr. Breers.
• 1742 Mr. Andrews, for Old Hall.
• 1743 James Simm, for John Bromleys within Sharples.
• 1744 John Bate, for Rivington.
• 1745 James Simm for Rivington.
• 1746 Richard Brownlow.
• 1747 - 1748 John Isherwood.
• 1749 Thomas Foster for Rivington.
• 1750-4 Thomas Foster, Chapel Warden for Rivington.
• 1755-8 W . Latham
• 1759 James Darbyshire, Chapel Warden for Mr Roscoe’s tenement.
• 1760 William Latham.
• 1761 Thomas Devenport.
• 1762 – 1764 William Latham, the latter year for James Brownlow.
• 1765 William Latham, for “Old Knows.” (Knowl.)
• 1766 William Latham, for Joseph Lee and Thomas Smith.
• 1767 William Latham, for George Brown.
• 1768 William Latham served for Mr. Shaw’s House, “Johnson’s,” and for George Brown’s House “Called Old Will’s,” and Latham’s tenement, jointly.
• 1769 John Clayton for Roger Lester in Anglezarke.
• 1770-1771 John Clayton for George Brown “Grit.”
• 1772-1773 Thomas Grundy for Stones’ House.
• 1774 Jonathan Kershaw
• 1775 Lawrence Lucas for William Miller.
• 1776 Lawrence Lucas for John Nightingale, “Brown Hill.”
• 1777 John Shaw, chapel warden for Jepsons, Rivington, and Obadiah Morris, in
• 1778 John Shaw for Jepson’s.
• 1779 Will Latham for Mr. Brownlow’s Moor Edge.
• 1780 Will Horrocks for Isherwoods.
• 1781 Will Latham for Thomas Wilson, Anglezark.
• 1782 John Wilcocks for Finch’s Land.
• 1783 W. Latham for John Brownlow “Wards.”
• 1784 , Brook House.
• 1785 Henry Berry for Anderton’s Tennement.
• 1786 Will Latham for Mrs. Shaw, for her house called “ Pilkington’s.”
• 1787 Will Latham for W. Burton, “Garnets,” Anglezark.
• 1788 Will Latham for Charles Shaw, Rivington. In this year there was a dispute regarding Samuel Waring, who was to be removed as head master of the school ” The signatories are Robert Andrews, John Fisher, W. Latham, W. Wild,(agent to Sir Frank Standish, Bart.,) Obadiah Morris, Thos. Norcross, John Kershaw, James Magnall, J. Wilcock, &c.
• 1792. Richard Hough, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1794-1795 R. Latham
• 1796. Edward Weywell
• 1797. Joseph Pimbley
• 1798 Thomas Hart
• 1799 Peter Rothwell, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1800 W. Dandy
• 1801 Alexander Gerrard, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1803 John Walkden, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1804 John Walkden, Churchwarden for Rivington
• 1805 James Naylor
• 1806 Charles Shaw
• 1807 James Hope, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1808 John lsherwood, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1809 W. Horrocks
• 1810 Bannister Derbyshire
• 1811 John Foster
• 1812 Thomas Lee, for Ward’s, Rivington.
• 1813 Samuel Pilkington, for Rivington.
• 1814 John Hodkinson, Churchwarden.
• 1815-1816 Richard Pendlebury, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1817 Dan Pilkington
• 1818 Charles Shaw
• 1819 John Darbyshire
• 1820 W. Clayton
• 1821 John Isherwood
• 1822 John Hope
• 1823 Thomas Ainsworth (Higher Henshaws).
• 1824 Thomas Ainsworth, Churchwarden for “ Old Halliwells.”
• 1825 Robert Andrews for himself, “ Hold Hall,” Rivington.
• 1826 Joseph Hayes for Joseph Longworth.
• 1827-1828 John Holt, Churchwarden for Rivington.
• 1821 John Isherwood, Lower House, and W . Kershaw , of Ander ton’s tenement,
• 1830 Charles Holt and James Jackson.
• 1831 Wright Boardman for Crosses, Rivington.
• 1833 Charles Rigby for the “Comp.,” Rivington.
• 1834 John Nightingale, Top o’th Hill, Rivington.
• 1835 Roger Gerrard, for Lister Mill.
• 1836 Roger Gerrard, Morris’s Rivington .
• 1837 Isaac Bain „ Roscoe’s Tenement, Rivington.
• 1838-9 Roger Gerrard for ye widow Pilkington.
• 1840 W. Woods for Old Gates.
• 1841 Joseph Heyes for Roger Brown, “Old Rachels.”
• 1842 Joseph Heyes for Tootels in Anglezark.
• 1843 Joseph Heyes for Lower Darbyshires.
• 1844 James Bain for Old Knowl.
• 1845 James Bain for Nightingale’s, Anglezark.
• 1846 William Taylor for Johnsons and Old Wills.
• 1847 Edward Rothwell for the Grut, Rivington.
• 1848 Thomas Pilkington for the Lea, Anglezark.
• 1849 I. Bain for William Smith, Lower Knowl.
• 1850 I. Bain for Bennett Anderton, Bradleys, Rivington.
• 1851 John Clayton for Brook House, Anglezark.
• 1852 I. Bain for Turner’s, Rivington.
• 1853 Bennett Low for New Ale House (Black Lad),
• 1854 I. Bain for John Winstanley, “ Gir’ Nest,” Anglezark.
• 1855 W. Taylor for Great House, Rivington.
• 1856 John Howarth for New Hall, Rivington.
• 1857 J. Pilkington
• 1858 James Ashworth
• 1859 Andrew Berry
• 1860 I. Bain
• 1861-1863 W. Ryder, for Rivington.

• 1521 John Warying
• 1536 Three acres of enclosed land to the use of a priest at Rivington Chapel
• 1541 Rev. William Bradley's name appears in the list of Bolton clergy and is provided for by Richard Pilkington of Rivington.
• 1548 William Bradsher
• 1554 William Brodhurst ( could these two be corruptions of William Bradley?)
• 1563 Henricus Croston ( was not instituted )
• 1597 Thomas Hyndley Usher at the School from 1587 to 1615, so could have held both positions during that time.
• 1615 Francis Banks
• 1618 Robert Worthington
• 1633 Edmund Shaw
• 1640 Robert Dewhurst
• 1646 Thomas Blackburn
• 1647 John Walker ( not instituted )
• 1649 Ralph Nuttall
• 1654 Thomas Abbott
• 1657 Samuel Newton ( Ejected 1662 for refusing to conform )
• 1662 Thomas Blackburn re-elected
• 1665 John Breres, brother of Thomas Breres of Rivington Hall acted as minister.
• 1672 Samuel Newton returned after the Toleration Act of that year.
• 1682 John Walker
• 1686 John Battersby ( left in 1695 )
• 1699 Joshua Dixon
• 1716 Andrew Gray
• 1728 John Waddington
• 1755 William Welsh
• 1763 John Fisher
• 1813 William Heaton
• 1823 James Jackson
• 1856 Thomas Sutcliffe ( first Vicar )
• 1879 William Ritson
• 1918 H. E. Lovelady
• 1932 Thomas Davies
• 1939 George Eustace Owen
• 1959 Norman William Peet
• 1967 Edward Redhead ( last Vicar )
• 1972 Jack Jermy ( Curate in charge )
• 1995 Denis Gatenby, Team Rector ( Rivington became part of the Horwich Team)

Bolton Chronicle 6th December 1834 On Monday night a diabolical attempt was made to destroy the ancient Church at Rivington by fire. A man who lives contiguous to the Church had been feeding his horse, and on his return from the stable, he observed an unusual light in the Church. On looking through one often windows he saw a pile of cushions, prayer books etc. on fire in the aisle. An alarm being given, assistance was quickly procured, and the tire extinguished but not before damage to the amount of £30 had been done. On examination it appeared the incendiary had broken up the Constables staves, and placing the cushions and books on them, set fire to the mass with Lucifer matches.

Bolton Chronicle March 21st 1835 Lancaster Assizes. John Simm 35, charged with willfully setting tire to a Church at Rivington on the night of December 1st last. The prisoner had no Counsel, He was a person of about middle size with a very sallow complexion and saturnine cast of features, but though supposed to be insane exhibited no symptoms of insanity when placed in the dock, beyond a little wildness of expression in the eyes. Dr. Brown stated the case for the prosecution and called a number of witnesses from whose testimony it appeared that about half past eleven on the night above mentioned some persons passing by the Parish Church of Rivington observed a great light inside. On going to the window they saw that the place was on fire and having procured the keys and got in, they found that a number of forms, prayer books and other articles had been piled up in the Singers Pew and set on tire. Two of the forms were much burnt and the flames had caught the Body of the pew before they could be extinguished. It was afterwards found that the incendiary had affected an entrance by breaking an iron stanchion which secured the vestry window with a large stone of about fifty pounds weight, which he left behind him in the vestry. The prisoner was not seen or found in the Church but he came up to the persons in the Churchyard before they had got the keys and said, “Look what a fine blaze it makes.” He was taken into custody next morning and acknowledged both then and subsequently, without any promise being made or threat needed, that it was he that had broken into the Church, piled the forms and the books together and set them on fire. On his apprehension, a box of Lucifer matches, a bit of candle wrapped up in a Hymn book and a printed account of the burning of the two Houses of Parliament was found upon him. This was the prosecution’s case and no evidence being offered by the Prisoner he was acquitted on the grounds of insanity and ordered to be detained for life or until he had regained his sanity.

Bolton Free Press 27th March 1843 A report of a burglary at Rivington Church in which the Church chest was emptied and a box that was chained to the chest had been wrenched away and taken out of the Church. The box was found in a field a considerable distance away where the end was forced out and the box was ransacked. The Charter of Foundation of the School was taken, part of the Seal has been found. A reward of £5 is offered.

Bolton Chronicle 5th November 1859 Investigation into Local Charities. Broadhurst Charity Bennett Anderton read the will of John Broadhurst dated 22nd June 1681 by which he bequeathed an amount of £50, one half to the poor of Rivington and one half to the use of Rivington Church , and further gave the interest of £5 for a sound, orthodox minister at Rivington and the interest on a further £5 to the poor. It appeared that the sum of £30, one moiety of this charity, in the trust of Thomas Anderton and Mr. Bennett Anderton of Rivington has been secured in Government 3 per cent Consols in the name of and in the account of the Trustees of the Charities and that the interest of this sum is distributed yearly on November 5th by the Rivington Trustees to the industrious poor. The other Moiety of 230 appears to have been laid out nearly a century ago towards the erection of the Parsonage House together with a sum of money left by will for the keeping in repair of the Church roof. An Inquiry had determined that it was an old debt incurred 80 years ago and was considered as lost. Grammar School Charity, the present amount is about £328. Cranley’s Charity, This is a Rent Charge of 6s 8d which has not been paid since 1843. Mr. Howard, the present tenant recognised the claim and it would be paid in full. It was usually added to the Shaw Charity.

Bolton Chronicle 28th September 1861: Re-opening of Rivington Church after extensive alterations. New pews have been installed instead of benches and squire pews. A central aisle has been formed with Minton tiles and a new aisle at right angles between the South Porch door and the Vestry room. The walls have been panelled to a height of five feet. The screen has been restored and the Altar has been raised and placed on a glazed tile base and protected by carved railings. A pretty little organ has been placed on the left of the West door, which is surmounted by the Royal Arms and a porch constructed, jutting inwards. Chorley Standard 11th November 1865: A report on Rivington Church: The windows are plain 3-light oblongs. The vestry is in the middle of the North side. The East Window is 5 narrow round-headed lights. Walls are wainscoted to the base of the windows, with beautiful Gothic tracery in the panels. This part is new and was put in when the Church was re-pewed in 1862. The reading desk is new with canopy at each end and open work in front. The inscription in the front of the Prayer Book and Bible reads, “Presented to the Chapelry of Rivington in memory of the late Joseph and Mary Ainsworth by their daughters Sarah Emily, Sophia Louise, Gertrude, Mary Agnes, Margaret Laura, and Edith Amy.” Above the porch at the westem end are the Royal Arms in gilt and at one side of it is a neat little organ. The seats are new and comfortable. Above the entrance to the vestry is a frame with a picture of Bishop Pilkington’s father, mother and family.

Chorley Standard 18th November 1865: A continuation of the report on Rivington Church. It describes the two Shaw memorial tablets and then continues ~ “Above the Pulpit is a list of benefactions: Mr. John Shaw gave in 1627 £6 12s 2p annual. Mr. George Shaw gave prior to 1650 £290 0s 0p. George Shaw of Blackburn gave in 1650 £220 0s 0d. Which sums were laid out in the purchase of lands as under mentioned. Swinton Moor Estate near Manchester rent £250 0s 0d. Sutton House Estate, Heath Chamock and Adlington, Thomas France’s part £18 0s 0d. Sutton House Estate Mary Crostin’s part £14 0s 0d. Mary Crostin’s Ground Rent £1 0s 0d. William Morris’s Ground Rent £2 2s 0d. A close on Adlington Common £3 0s 0d. Billinge Carr Estate in Witton, Blackburn £24 0s 0d. Joseph Fielding Esq. For part of Billinge Hill in Blackbum £2 0s 0d. Cottages in Heath Charnock- tent £l3 l3s 0d. Mrs. Chamley gave solely to the poor of Rivington, annually, a rent charge on Mr. Heatley’s Estate £0 6s 8d. A total of £328 5s 0d. Trustees C. J. Darbyshire Esq., Mr. John Howarth, Rivington. Mr. John Halliwell, Mr. William Berry, Anglezarke. Mr. John Dickinson, Mr. Henry Dickinson, Anderton. Mr. Henry Miller, Mr. Andrew Smith, Heath Charnock.

Chorley Standard 25th November 1865: Continuing the report on Rivington Church: The article describes three tablets on the South wall and the incumbent’s board. It then wrongly states that the School was founded in 1666. (It should be 1566) It then describes the School as Elizabethan in style with four plain 3—light windows on each side with a door in the North side and a staircase in the South side. There are three masters, Mr. Tebay, Mr. Wilding and Mr. Holdsworth, Writing Master. The homes for the Usher and Writing Master were built in 1789 out of surplus funds, [Note; A letter from a correspondent regarding the article on Rivington Church mentions John Shaw who is buried near his plaque, and continues,]“and some time afterwards the Roman memorial cross which stood on his land was removed to the spot, in all probability by his own wish. What has happened to this beautiful and ancient memorial?” (A letter in reply to the above) “With regard to the stone memorial cross which was found on the spot covered with earth, and which of course must be merged into the freehold of the Church and become Church property, after the discovery of this it was placed on, and in the centre of the chancel screen, giving the interior a solemn and graphic effect. It was taken down ten or twelve years ago and either given, sold or battered away by the last named incumbent. Your correspondent was under no mistake about this ancient monument for, I am informed, it is still preserved at Wallsuches or Ridgmont in the township of Horwich. The corona or crown is also preserved, being affixed above the entrance to the Roman Catholic Chapel at Euxton. These two specimens of Roman Art having fallen into careful hands will, I have no doubt be restored upon candid application. The pedestal upon which the cross probably stood has remained until very recently, when one of the farm tenants on the property roused the stone from it’s bed and broke it in pieces, whether from convenience, profit or prejudice I have not been able to ascertain.³⁵⁾

• Clerks and Ministers for the years 1270 to 1995 by David Owen MA
• Rivington Church, a short summary by David Owen MA
• Church wardens 1692 to 1862 by P. Lacey
• Rivington Church Registers 1637 -1837 transcribed by David Owen MA
• Rivington Church, Founding Royal Patent, 1566, full transcription by M.M Kay

• History of Rivington, Thomas Hampson, 1893
• A short history of the township of Rivington, Irvine,1904,
• History of Rivington: With Lists of the Clergy and Church Wardens, the Church Wardens Accounts, Particulars of the Rivington and Blackrod Grammer Schools an Account of the Pilkington Family and Copious Index - 1893 First Edition ISBN 978-0-9552873-0-5, ISBN 0955287308
• Records of a Lancashire Family from the XIIth to the XXth Century, R. Cunliffe-Shaw, 1940

• Rivington Church OPC page
• Rivington Church Official Site
• Old News Paper Reports Relating to Rivington Church
• A Short History of Rivington, Irvine, 1904

This page incorporates text taken from [https://www.angelfire.com/in/rivington/ Rivington Church, Rivington, Lancashire] and details from [http://www.rivington-lancashire.com/index2.html|Local historian - David Owen]