St Joseph's Church, Wigan - Aug 2021

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Nyrian

Old but not obsolete
Joined
Sep 19, 2022
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Location
Chorley
HISTORY: St Josephs RC Church closed its doors to worshippers nearly 30 years ago. The building was sold by the Archdiocese of Liverpool at auction soon after it stopped holding services in 1995 and its current ownership is unclear. It has even been suggested that the decision to place it on Historic England’s register of listed buildings could have worked against it by limiting the redevelopment options. The church was opened in 1878, although a smaller Roman Catholic place of worship and a Methodist chapel had previously stood on the site. Planning permission was obtained back in 2002 to convert the building into a rock climbing centre but nothing came of it.

EXPLORE: Access point looked like someone had a go at it with a sledgehammer. Possibly breaking in for a look at what's knickable from churches. The floors in the side rooms were dodgy but the main section was concreted and solid. Lots of pidgeon poo. Not nearly as bad as the mansion we did later on. But still a danger from above!

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That first photo is from the web. Last year I went several months forgetting to take photos of the outside of any place we visited. I wouldn't take a photo of a place unless we got in as my photos were getting crowded and varied time stamps. But I kept forgetting the outside shot on the way out. So I only have these inside shots.

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All side rooms had dodgy floors like this one. And plenty of places where nature has had a long time to work:

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It's always difficult for me when sorting through the photographs to pick between the wide shots and regular. Because although you get more in the wide shot, it's less detailed and sometimes very fisheyed. Like this one below and the first photo I posted. I suppose if I was willing to lug around a full camera I could get the best of both. But I have trouble keeping my phone from getting smacked around on explores and scrambling around.

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It's always difficult for me when sorting through the photographs to pick between the wide shots and regular. Because although you get more in the wide shot, it's less detailed and sometimes very fisheyed. Like this one below and the first photo I posted. I suppose if I was willing to lug around a full camera I could get the best of both. But I have trouble keeping my phone from getting smacked around on explores and scrambling around.
These are good photos. Just looks so risky inside. Nice find.
 
These are good photos. Just looks so risky inside. Nice find.
Cheers. Always helps when the place has good features though. We had to cross that one wooden floor room to get in but other than that you should be safe enough in the central hall.
 
Nice work, always sad to see churched deteriorate like this I feel they should be used in some way
It might be pessimistic but I always assumed that listed buildings often get left derelict and low security in the hope it collapses as quick as possible so they can build on the spot. Probably way, way, way more money for selling empty land with building permission than a hugely expensive listed building requiring all sorts of ridiculous admin and specialist repairs?
 
Nicely done, there was some nice small signs on the wall in here cant remember what they said Ill try & find pics
 
It might be pessimistic but I always assumed that listed buildings often get left derelict and low security in the hope it collapses as quick as possible so they can build on the spot. Probably way, way, way more money for selling empty land with building permission than a hugely expensive listed building requiring all sorts of ridiculous admin and specialist repairs?
It might be pessimistic but I always assumed that listed buildings often get left derelict and low security in the hope it collapses as quick as possible so they can build on the spot. Probably way, way, way more money for selling empty land with building permission than a hugely expensive listed building requiring all sorts of ridiculous admin and specialist repairs?
Smaller church buildings have been turned into living accommodation by putting in one or more upper levels. One example is a forner church in Chiswick, west London. Another in Buckinghamshire was made into his home and workshop by a self-employed furniture designer and maker. But there neeeds to be no intervening period of deterioration. St Joseph's is a large building, but it might have been adaptable.
 
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