History of St Philips Church

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The foundation stone of the church was laid on 5th June 1926 by Mrs Austin Porritt. The church itself owes its existence to two prominent local families - The Porritts who were engaged in the production of textiles for use on machines used to manufacture paper and the Turnbulls who were involved in the manufacture of printed and dyed fabrics for domestic use - Both mills are still in production in the village of Stubbins.

The building fund was established in 1909 with William Turnbull as Treasurer and many people and local small businesses contributed. The land was donated by Colonel Porritt. In December 1924 a three day Bazaar was held in Edenfield School and the total raised from this event was £2226!

The Church is built of local stone from Accrington brick with Darley Dale dressings. The great roof is covered with Westmorland slates and internally boarded with pine. The seating capacity including the choir is 250. The total cost of building was £6,600 and the Church was consecrated on 28th May 1927, by the Rt Revd John Charles Hill, Suffragon Bishop of Hulme.

Many internal parts of the church, such as the oak altar , alabaster pulpit and the oak choir stalls were given to the church by members of both the Porritt and the Turnbull families.

The East Window depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd, is flanked on left by St Philip and on the right by St Bartholomew are situated above the Sanctuary.

CHURCH HALL

The hall was built by the Hillary Brothers of Ramsbottom, it is faced with local stone and cost £1,380
The foundation stone was laid by William Turnbull and the opening ceremony was performed by Austin Porritt on 20th May 1933. It was dedicated on the following Sunday by the Rev'd J R Leeming, Vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rochdale.
Over the years it has been used for a wide variety of purposes both for the Church and the community - a service it still performs today.

THE PARISH

The parish, comprising of Stubbins, Chatterton and Strongstry was creating by an Order in Council dated 20th December 1927 for the parishes of Edenfield and Shuttleworth.

The name Stubbins means 'cleared land' and along with Chatterton is first recorded in the Clitheroe Court Rolls of the 16th Century. The development of the village came in the mid Victorian era although there was industry in textles at Stubbins Lane, Chatterton, Stubbins Vale, Rose Bank and Edenfield in the early part of the 18th century.

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