FOR over three centuries Atherton people have worshipped on the prime site of St John's.

And those 17th century religious links have now been firmly forged with a 21st century future.

Parishioner Peter Grimshaw has painstakingly researched the church's history and, in the parish magazine, writes enthusiastically about the skilful reconstruction

St John's foundation stone was laid on Easter Sunday, 1878 and when the final stage was completed 18 years later the original estimated cost of £14,000 had risen to an actual £24,000.

Ralph Fletcher junior, of the Fletcher-Burrows mining family, was the driving force behind the new church which was on the site of at least two other places of worship.

Lancaster architects Paley and Austin designed the original building and historic buildings specialist Peter Skinner from Macclesfield has masterminded the redesign.

His expertise is much sought after when work is needed on the nation's architectural treasures.

The craftsmen who put theory into practise are also experts - like foreman stonemason Peter Jenninson. He served his apprenticeship at Beverley Minster and led the team which rebuilt the massive chancel arch spanning around 25 feet.

All 94 tonnes of it - triassic sandstone from a Staffordshire quarry.

Peter Grimshaw compares St John's with Atherton's mills and pits with which it once shared an intriguing vista. Most of the mills and all the mines have gone, but the parish church marches into the 21st century as the nucleus of an active Christian community.

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