Opened in 1851, it was extended in 1863, 1871, 1884, 1888 and 1899, and is notable for its fine Arts and Crafts wood carvings by Arthur Simpson of Kendal and late twentieth-century fittings.

The foundation stone was laid by the Duchess of Cambridge in the presence of many dignitaries on 3 October 1849, following a preliminary service at the Prestwich Parish Church, documented by extensive newspaper reports.

[2] In 1875, parishioners affiliated to St Margaret's presented a petition to the Bishop to request that the church be licensed for marriages, and a licence for Holy Matrimony was duly granted.

Over the following 21 years, the church was enhanced with a new high altar, reredos, panelling, bishop's throne, rood screen, war memorial and other items, largely designed by Gibson and made by Simpson.

This was acquired in 1909, when land on the opposite side of St Margaret's Road from the church was purchased from the Rector of Prestwich and consecrated.

In the late 1960s, provision for the young people of the parish was substantially improved by the building of a new Youth Centre and a Scout and Guide Headquarters.

In February 1985 the church was damaged by arson, when the 1884 Foster and Andrews organ, the Lady Chapel and a number of other fittings were completely destroyed.

At the same time, changes in liturgical worship made it convenient to move the High Altar from the east end to a new bay in the chancel, and remove the old chancel screen to the west end of the church, where it lent greater dignity to a new baptistery area, created in a more central location with a new marble font at its centre.

In 1986 the Ilkley artist Graeme Willson painted a great Crucifixion suspended over the nave altar, followed in 1994 by the Madonna of the Passion in the Lady Chapel and a chalice and host on the aumbry door.

In 1998, Willson designed a font cover, carved in Dick Reid's York workshop, and in 2004 an embroidered banner depicting the church's patron saint.

A vertical memorial beam carved by Charles Gurrey of York, bearing in red lettering the words "I am among you as one who serves", was added near the columbarium in 2010.

The Revd Deborah Plummer, then associate vicar and lecturer of Bolton Parish Church, was appointed priest-in-charge, and she was licensed to the cure on 9 July 2007.