St Michael and All Angels, Ashton-on-Ribble
St. Michael and All Angels Church, Egerton Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1AJ
St Michael's stands on a prominent corner of Victorian and Edwardian middle-class housing between Tulketh Road and Egerton Road, but its origins were as a Sunday school for the working-class people who lived down the hill towards Preston Marsh. The parish church for Ashton - St Andrew’s - was used by the rural residents of Ashton and people who had moved to the new middle-class suburb created in 1860. Meanwhile the industrial expansion of Preston had filled the area above Watery Lane with workers' housing, but made no educational provision for their children. In 1885 St Michael's school and mission church was built on Tulketh Road, between Hull Street and Beverley Street, but the building of Preston Dock in 1885-1892 led to a huge increase in the population of this area and it soon became overcrowded.
Generous donations from local benefactors and especially from Mrs Birley of the Larches paid for the land and the new church that stands today.
The church building will be open to explore on Saturday 20 September. Exhibition panels from Lancashire Museums about the work of Paley and Austin will be on display, and the Preston Guild Horns will hold a morning rehearsal where visitors can enjoy the sound of brass in this wonderful acoustic. at 2.30pm Dr Alan Crosby will give a talk on the foundation and early history of the church. The building will also be open on the afternoon of Sunday 17 September for a concert by the Rawstorne Singers including Vivaldi's 'Gloria'.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 20 September:
- Church open from 9am until 5pm
- Sunday 21 September:
- Church open for Sunday Service at 10am; then from 12noon to 2pm. Later access to concert only (paid access)
Location & directions
St. Michael and All Angels Church, Egerton Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1AJ
- Directions:
- The church is situated at the junction of Egerton Road and Tulketh Road in Ashton-on-Ribble. The main church door on the south side is more easily accessed from Egerton Road, The entrance to the car park is from Tulketh Road. This will not be available on Saturday morning because of the farmers' market.
- Contact on day:
- 07854 771473
- Telephone number:
- +447854771473
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Please park on Egerton Road on Saturday morning as the church car park is occupied by the farmers' market. On Sunday there is disabled parking in the car park accessed from Tulketh Road, but parking on Egerton Road is still likely to be closer to the main church entrance.
Additional information
If you’re interested in the heritage of this site, a 36-page booklet by local historian, Alan Crosby on the history of the church and parish is available for £3. Details of musical events and talks are on the church website and A Church Near You.
