Login   |   Register   |   
Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

King Street & King Street West, Wigan

16 Comments

Baptist Church
Baptist Church
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 3,436
Item #: 32742
Early 20th cen. photo of King Street Baptist Church

Comment by: Cyril on 27th October 2020 at 18:30

This grand building with beautiful architectured features was demolished to make way for Lennon's supermarket wasn't it, another church further up on the opposite side was also demolished to make way for Tesco which is now a night club. Later TSB was here, then a bar, now it's a car park - and they say its progress?

Comment by: Elizabeth on 27th October 2020 at 19:44

There is a car park now where Lennon's supermarket was.The church was demolished before the 'new' TSB bank was built and opened in 1974 ,next door.It was considered state of the art when we moved from the other premises,which are now occupied by Platt and Fishwick.

Comment by: Edna on 27th October 2020 at 22:32

So sad to see churches like this demolished.As you say Cyril it was a grand building.

Comment by: Veronica on 27th October 2020 at 23:15

How soon demolished buildings fade from memory. It's nice to see them again and it makes me wonder how could I have forgotten it, although I never went inside. Must have past by many times going to the pictures.

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 28th October 2020 at 09:26

You said it in one word Cyril....' progress ', I don't think so. Is housing people in towerblocks with ' iffy ' cladding, progress ?? These bulidings we see on WW were built to last.

Comment by: Jb on 28th October 2020 at 09:47

The Church was demolished to make way for Tesco

Comment by: Kim on 28th October 2020 at 12:10

Tesco was across the road from this church

Comment by: RON HUNT on 28th October 2020 at 13:30

It was next door to the SHAKESPEARE pub. If you look at the other photos on the site under King Street it is visible on a couple of them.

Comment by: Cyril on 28th October 2020 at 17:04

Curious to know if it was as opulent inside as it was outside, could there be long forgotten photos of the interior tucked away in a drawer somewhere.

A brief history of the church can be found here: https://www.wiganbaptistchurch.com/history

These letters from Samuel Harris to John Brown Wigan bookseller which mentions this church and others in Wigan may be of interest also.
https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Leisure/Museums-and-archives/archives/Harris-BrownLettersWLCTWALS.pdf

Comment by: A.W. on 29th October 2020 at 10:09

I remember running up and down the steps of this church when I was about 4 years old.

Comment by: Helen B on 29th October 2020 at 17:28

My Dad & his sister were both Baptised there. My Grandparents married there in 1904.

Comment by: Helen B on 29th October 2020 at 17:38

Cyril. From what I remember, I only went in there once, it was understated, as you would expect from a Baptist/Methodist Church.

Comment by: Cyril on 30th October 2020 at 13:35

What a let down Helen B, from looking at the outside one would imagine quite a grand interior, though I can understand why with many other churches just having unadorned or plain interiors, though looking on the bright side on the photo above the windows look to be leaded with patterned and most likely coloured glass.

On the other hand a photo of the interior of Greenhough St Methodist Church posted by Adrian Roxburgh, it shows a very nice intricate plaster frieze.
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=32223&gallery=Greenough+Street%2C+Wigan&page=14

Comment by: ronnie forshaw on 10th March 2022 at 13:30

i was in the cubs there in the cellar early 1950s

Comment by: Veronica on 26th February 2024 at 20:16

It’s dreadful the destruction of buildings such as this. It really beggars belief. All for a supermarket that’s not even there anymore.

Comment by: Colin Traynor on 27th February 2024 at 12:16

What a tragic loss to the King Street landscape. I think it had a fire before demolition, another of Wigans suspicious building burnings!

Leave a comment?

* Enter the 5 digit code to the right of the input box. Don't worry if you make a mistake, you will get another chance. Your comments won't be lost.