Dilapidated former church building and grounds to go under the hammer at auction

St Hilda’s Mission Church and its grounds

A dilapidated former church building overlooking Hollingworth Lake is set to go under the hammer at auction later this month.

St Hilda’s Mission Church and its grounds are going up for auction with property auctioneer Pugh on 18 October.

Founded in 1931, the church closed in 1998 and has stood derelict ever since. The dilapidated remains have caught the attention of many history enthusiasts and passers-by because of its eerie appearance on the Lancashire landscape.

But the church’s history goes back much further than that. Records at the Touchstones Local Studies Library in Rochdale show that in the 1870s, there were around 250 Roman Catholics in Littleborough, and they were the ones who all banded together to build the church on its initial site Featherstall Road in 1878.

It became known as the ‘Iron Church’ as it was made of metal sheets.

The church building was later bought by the Mission of St Hilda before it was dismantled and rebuilt at Hollingworth Fold in 1931.

Edward Feather, Associate Director at Pugh Auctions, said: “St Hilda’s mission church is an intriguing and unusual property that presents a unique opportunity for the right buyer.

“Interestingly, it can only be accessed by foot which adds to the property's mystery. But for the right buyer I have no doubt that this historic property is a true gem.”

The church has a guide price of £25,000, and registrations for bidders are still being taken.