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Flowery Field Church is a Free Christian (nondenominational) Fellowship observing all the festivals of the Christian calendar, including regular Services of Holy Communion and upholds the right of everyone to practise the Christian faith in their own personal way.

The church's origins date back to an itinerant Methodist Preacher, Hugh Bourne, who visited the Flowery Field area on horseback in the 1820s. He inspired the villagers to hold religious Services and classes in their cottages. Their employer, the cotton mill owner, Thomas Ashton (the elder), was impressed with their efforts and in 1830 built "a school for all denominations" at Spring Gardens, to provide educational facilities for his workpeople and their children. In 1870 a deputation from the church called upon Thomas Ashton (the younger) to solicit his help and advice. He asked that they raise the sum of £1000 and then report back to him. Within just a few years the task was accomplished.

Work commenced on the building of the Church in 1876. Thomas Worthington FRIBA of Manchester was commissioned to be the Architect. The building is in the Perpendicular or Tudor Gothic style of architecture and is cruciform in shape. There is a separate though connected Tower which rises 81 feet above street level. Work was finished towards the end of 1878 and the Opening Ceremony was held on Thursday 19th December 1878.

Although completely independent it is affiliated to the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, a member of the East Cheshire Union of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches and the Unitarian Christian Association.

Church website: Link

Created: Sun, 15 Nov 2015, Updated: Sun, 15 Nov 2015