The Parish Church of St. Katharine stands in a prominent position in the village of Blackrod and can be seen from many miles around. The Church is dedicated to Saint Katharine of Alexandria whose feast day is the 25th November. The first recorded evidence of a church in Blackrod is in the Manchester Diocesan Calendar which says that a church existed in 1138.

The church is a building of stone in the Norman style, consisting of nave, south aisle and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing 6 bells and a clock.

Most of the present church was rebuilt in the early 1900s, replacing the earlier church. The oldest part of the church is the lower tower which was part of a church built during the reign of Elizabeth I. The church is noted for its stained glass windows including the East Window designed and made in 1914 by Mary Lowndes, who was also renowned as one of the leaders of the suffragette movement.

The church was re-ordered in 2000 to bring it into the 21st century with the addition of meeting rooms, kitchen, office and toilets, enabling church and community to have space to meet and enjoy various activities such as the monthly Film Club, Flower Club, Stitch & Knit Group and Sunday School. A new Vicar, Revd Angela Wynne, was appointed in 2016 as a half time post as part of the team with Daisy Hill, Westhoughton and Wingates churches.

All are welcome to St Katharine’s and details of services and events can be found on the website at www.stkatharine.net