Christ Church serves the parish of Pennington in the Leigh Deanery and Salford Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Manchester.

Irvine was opposed by his patron, Lord Lilford and many of his congregation including James Pownall the silk manufacturer.

The vicar of St Stephen's Church, Astley, James Hewlett helped raise funds.

[3][4] The church was designed in the Gothic Revival style by E. H. Shellard and built in 1854 in hammer-dressed sandstone with ashlar dressings and a slate roof.

"[5] Built on a projecting plinth, the church has a six-bay nave and two-bay chancel separated by buttresses.