It stands on Ford Lane, close to the River Mersey, approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Manchester city centre.

[2][3] The origin of St Wilfrid's is possibly Saxon, with a mention in the Domesday Book of a "church (at) Norwardine: (held by) Ranulf and Bigot from Earl Hugh.

[1][2] The interior contains some original medieval rood screens, including one above the doorway in the south chapel which depicts "a pair of tumblers and a monkey sitting on a drum.

"[2][5] There is a complete set of Victorian stained glass dating from the 1850s which was saved from the old church and reinstalled following Crowther's rebuilding.

The windows are the work of noted stained glass designers Charles Eamer Kempe, William Wailes and Henry Hughes.