The Lancaster firm of architects Paley and Austin had taken part in the competition for the design, but had been unsuccessful.

[4] Miss Halsted of Hood House laid the foundation stone on 7 October 1876.

[5] Vestments, lighted candles and birettas, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, were used until the 1880s, but caused disquiet in the diocese.

The Bishop of Manchester refused to allow the parish to have an assistant curate until the incumbent had made assurances about the church's position.

[8] It was replaced by a three-manual organ which had been built in 1920 for a church in Farnworth by Alexander Young, also of Manchester.

This was moved to Burnley and rebuilt in St Matthew's in 1933 by Laycock and Bannister of Cross Hills.