HISTORICALEIGH - The Church That Moved

November 17, 2014 by Carole Mulroney

The Church That Moved

In 1909 a rather remarkable event took place in Leigh.

The Union Congregationalist Church, an iron building weighing 14 tons and measuring 54ft x 20ft was moved, lock, stock and barrel, a third of a mile from its home in the house of Rev Josiah Foster in Oakleigh Park Drive to a new position in Pall Mall.

To accomplish this the church was raised and 60ft lengths of stout timber were placed beneath it resting on iron rollers. Then a powerful traction engine hauled the church along the road by means of steel wire ropes. The whole process took two days and a large crowd gathered to witness this The roadway was completely blocked and traffic was diverted into neighbouring streets.

This was a very delicate operation and was done with great skill such that no damage was caused. The removal was to a site close to where a permanent church was to be built. That permanent church was itself superseded in more recent times by the present church.