St Stephen's Church was the vision of one man called Harrison Blair. He was the employer of many local people at the Vitriol Works on Moss Lane. He had a good reputation, was known for paying good wages and being a fair-minded man. He cared about his workers and although the locals had a great many needs, after providing a school he judged that their greatest need was a local place of worship, instead of walking to Farnworth or Ringley in all weathers. Worship was held in the school until Harrison's dream could be realised.
 
Harrison formed a building committee, which included his good friend John Fletcher, a mine proprietor of Clifton with other leading members of the Church. By 1865 plans were in place for a project to build a Church and Harrison's brother Stephen was now enthused and promised £1,000 when the Church was consecrated. However there were site difficulties and it took until 1870 before the building could be finally started.
 
Tragedy struck just six months before work commenced, Harrison died without ever seeing his dream come to fruition. His wife, four daughters and brother Stephen vowed to carry on and the first sod was cut on 28th June 1870. Tragedy was to strike again when Stephen suddenly died on 4th July, ironically the day that building operations commenced.
 
Harrison's dream was finally going to be a reality but with one addition. When his daughters laid the foundation stone of the Church on 15th October, they announced that they would finance the building of a church tower. The Bishop of Manchester, Dr Fraser, finally consecrated the newly built Church on 1st July 1871.

Look round the Church & you will see dedications to the Blairs