The Demolition of St John's Church Werneth Oldham

May 2023
St John Church of England, Werneth
St John's St,
Werneth
Lancashire
It was founded in 1844, consecrated in 27 October 1845, and closed in 1982.
The School was built in 1862.
Vicarage: 14 Tamworth St, Werneth construction 1878
Vicars
1845-1860 Rev H Tull
1861 -1863 Rev Keene
1867-1881 Rev James Gornall (1881 Census)
1891 census ?
1901 census Rev Edward Williamson Roberts Hutchinson
1911 census Rev Edward Williamson Roberts Hutchinson
1930-40 Rev William Arthur Westley
1939 census Rev William Arthur Westley
1944 Rev John Law (DK)
c 1950 Rev Holland (DK)
?-1955 Rev William Denys Gower-Jones (DK)
1955-1959 Rev Roy Ashworth Kennedy (DK)
1959-1965 Rev Clifford Maurice Harding (DK/JO)
1965-1975 Rev Bernard Ball (JO)
1975-1982 Various fill-in priests
Musicians
The church in the 1950-70s had a high quality pipe organ.
The choirmaster at St John's was at one time Charles Walton, father of the
composer Sir William Walton. William Walton sang in the church choir age 6, c1908.
In 1955-1965 the Choirmaster was Herbert Winterbottom, head of
music at Salford University.
In 1963 the church choir sang on the TV programme Coronation St.
More information can be found in "A history of Oldham Churches" by John Beever.
Thanks for watching.
Middleton to Oldham Railway
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[@kellymeadows353]

Impressive video; the view, scenery, and musical score ❤

[@nige7577]

Nicely filmed Colin but a sad ending after all those years.

[@stephenbrass1808]

Great filming and the music spot on Colin, but a very very sad end to a lovely old church .

[@tattoo1084]

Good filming. Sad to see old churches go.

[@clarence_claymore.]

The contractors and the families of the council members who made this decision should feel unsafe

[@davidcraggs3770]

Any information about what happened to the organ

[@theiconographer]

Beautiful if tragic video. Thanks for filming and sharing this. It has gained you an instant subscription from me.

[@steamchasers2809]

Very much appreciated, Thank you.

[@dougfuters9072]

first class job of compiling and editing this montage of old and recent into a very evocative Film of St Johns. would you mind sharing what is the music you chose?

[@steamchasers2809]

Thank you for reminding me to do that. I've added a link now.

[@mikestuart5119]

Very very sad indeed

[@chrisking789]

Excellent video well done 👍🏻

[@andrewregan5877]

Very poignant, but still a lovely video. I’ve seen this and your films documenting the demolition of Hartford Mill. Can I ask where you got the old photos of Saint Johns St and the church from as I’m currently researching Alder Root, Edward St and St John St?

[@albertross-ndt]

Superb video of yet another sad event in our home town. My best friend lived on St John’s Walk. Collin, your photography is breathtaking. Please post your gimbal settings etc. Thank you

[@lynnegee6814]

Do you know what the plan is for the piece of land? It's a significant & potentially valuable plot for development

[@Droningonuk]

Great filming, shame the spire demolition wasn't caught though

[@OldhamSteve52]

Very sad. Oldham isn’t the town it once was, no outdoor market, Butterfly’s, Henry Afrikas, etc.

[@hesawarmspirit]

good job !

[@user-tl3ng9jr2e]

I wonder why that building wasn’t listed. Normally the uk is fairly good at protecting these buildings

[@davidsirett5560]

excellent filming. i couldn't help but notice the two machine operator's did not have their beacons on.

[@Terry.W]

So sad to see yet another Church reduced to rubble ....and from what I can see none of the locals or ex-worshipers were present to watch..

[@steamchasers2809]

I was there for most of the 3 days it took to demolish the church and saw very little interest, just a few of us pesky KZbinrs. ;) These projects aren't well publicised and it's only by word of mouth that I even knew it was happening.

[@786fimi]

One of the reasons why it got demolished

[@crumplezone1]

Here's the church and there's the steeple. Open the door and see all the people. Here's the parson going upstairs. And here he is now he's saying his prayers.

[@davidcraggs3770]

I wonder what happened to the organ ?

[@karengough9050]

It's days were numbered when they knocked down the surrounding Housing Estate.

[@lordvolland1930]

What abomination could do that to this beatufil church?

[@squishyblanket]

Look at the council members who made this decision, then you'll understand.

[@utawkinterme9428]

No morning prayers at school, churches flattened it's a good job Jesus is available to us wherever we are.

[@vrijheid-ui8bc]

Let me guess ??? They needed space to build a mosque ???

[@MissCatherine1100]

Local politicians check out.

[@michaelgoulding6609]

people need to start going to church again, then these lovely old buildings wont need to be pulled down,

[@Ali-no8el]

​@MissCatherine1100 ironically it was last used as a mosque. the guy even paid from his own pocket to fix the building roof etc but got told to leave by the council, they wanted to demolish it and later gave this sorry excuse they had to out of fear of vandalism it had to go disgusting crooks the council.

[@mistermood4164]

Muslims go to their place of worship christians don’t

[@cscms28]

sad. could have moved in a made condos. wanted to see how they took the tower down

[@haydndalton]

Tragic

[@thio59]

could they not house refugees in it?

[@ilonagravite3368]

Kristus aiziet no Anglijas,skumji

[@trondog8503]

This just seems wrong on every level, criminal.

[@Powerhaus88]

Those Council memebers should be put on trial.

[@albertross-ndt]

The councillors and the government are put on trial, look around you and you know what’s happening. I actually stopped voting (never thought I hear myself saying that)! To quote Larkin Man passes misery on to man It deepens like a coastal shelf Get out as quickly as you can…

[@jonsnow6741]

Many such buildings are demolished for the new agenda as opposed to conversion to much needed homes . The councils make such projects impossible jusy like old office block conversions that are stopped but passed for migrants !

[@PopularesVox]

Seeing this video I'm completely shocked and very angry at what is discretion of Britain's cultural heritage. The reason to secure it from vandalism and anti social behaviour is ridiculous for such an act of wanton destruction of a historic and sacred building and one of the few buildings of architectural interest within the area. They didn't even care to save the Church's stained glass windows. I would say that Oldham council should be ashamed of themselves but know they probably are unable to understand that concept. Undertaken in such a uncaring way, it's hard not to see this as a deliberate action against Christian heritage, rather than a necessary solution to urban planning of the area.