St Walburge's spire as seen from the University

Preston has three main Christian churches. St John's Minster, CofE. St Walburge's, RC, Central Methodist Church.

St Johns is a substantial building close to the city centre on Church Street and is locally known as the Parish Church. A church has been on this site since 670. The building is Grade II* listed and seats 400. There are CofE churches in Preston that seat more including St Andrews at Ashton which is a fine building and Emmanuel and All Saints which both seat around 800.

St John's on the Blackburn Diocesan Website

St Walburge's is one of Prestons jewels with its 300ft high steeple next to the railway line at Maudland and close to the university. Unfortunately it is suffering financial problems and closure has been threatened. Although it does seem unlikely that such a building with £2m of restoration work and one of the countries finest hammer beam roofs would be allowed to go to rot. The church was designed by Hansom of cab fame and opened in 1854.

St Walburge's on the Diocese of Lancaster website

The Central Methodist Church is across from St Georges 'The Mall' on Lune Street. It has an imposing frontage containing a coffee shop.

The Central Methodist Church website

Preston has a good mixture of churches some of which are Grade II listed. There is a larger than average RC population.

Link to Christian Network information about religion in Preston, scroll down the page.

Link to Save Britains Heritage Website

Link to The Times Newspaper article about Prestons threatened churches - 28th Jan 2008.