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Enlighten Accrington – AR Walking Trail

Location 6 - St James Church

Founded in 1546, it was originally a chapel of ease for Altham Parish Church. Rebuilt in 1763 and further extended in 1828, it became a parish church in 1870. In 1897 the tower and belfry were restored and the bells rehung.

There is a peal of 12 bells and these are still rung regularly. Sunday services are held every week, and a Food Bank and homeless drop-in operate during the week. Civic services also take place here.

There are some Georgian pews still in the building, but the majority are Victorian pews, with the addition of late-Victorian choir stalls. The Peel family are recorded on marble wall tablets. They lived at Accrington House (no longer in existence).

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Interior view of a historic church showing wooden pews, upper galleries, decorative wall patterns and a large stained‑glass window above the altar.
Historic parade scene featuring a group of children in light‑coloured outfits holding decorated staffs and flowers, gathered in front of a large “Parish Church of St. James Accrington” banner on a cobbled street.