Even though Adlington is a small area there has been a large amount of industry, with coal mines and the cotton trade bringing an increase in population which required not only houses but also churches. Below is a brief history of these churches.

Build between 1838 and 1839 for a cost of £1,560 this was the first of the major churches to be built in the Adlington area. It has a chequered history as it's congregation has fallen then risen again only to fall again. It's last services were in 1975. In 1981 the whole site including the grave yard was sold on the condition that the building could not be demolished or the graves moved (last burial was around 1949) It has now become a popular Indian restaurant.

Opened for worship in 1853, and originally known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church to distinguish it from the Primitive Methodist Church on Park Road, it cost £600 to build. In 1931 all sections of the Methodist faith were reunited, and the Primitive Methodist Church was demolished. A Sunday school has also been built next door, where much church social life was conducted.

The Church was bombed in 1940 and was only repaired after the second world war and was reopened in 1948. The main church was considered structural unsafe in the 1970's and services have been moved to the Sunday school.

The Church and School were sold in 2002, and are now being cleaned and the trees and shrubs surrounding the building have been cleared prior to their new use as a tool hire shop. Also in 2002 Adlington United Reformed Church and Adlington Methodist Church joined together and now worship at the Railway Road site as Adlington United Reformed and Methodist Church.

The parish was established as an offshoot of St. Gregory's. Weld Bank, by Canon Greenhalgh. The foundation stone of the church was laid by Bishop Goss in September 1862, and was opened in the following year.

The chief benefactor of the new mission was the late Mr. Charles J. Stonor who previously gave the land and most of the stone for the mission buildings. During the rectorship of the Rev. J Webster, 1883-I889 the original buildings were taken down and replaced by the present, which are more commodious. In 1906 a new oak reredos and wall panelling were erected in the church, and in 1909 a shrine of richly carved oak was erected as a thanksgiving offering by a benefactor. In 1920 the church was further improved by the addition to the sanctuary of four stained-glass windows. In 1921 a new Lady Altar of carved oak was presented by the Sodality of Mary at a cost of £263. In 1922 the church was renovated and electric lighting installed at a cost of £330. In 1925 the playgrounds of the schools were re-surfaced with flags at a cost of £440.

After a tragic fire in 1942 the Presbytery had to be demolished. It is pleasing to note that after the fire people from all faiths helped to clean the church of smoke damage.

In the first half of the nineteenth century Adlington Congregationalists had no church of their own and used to meet at each other's houses for worship. Eventually. Jessie Hood allowed them to use a room above his wheelwrights Shop in Chorley Street for services but the accommodation was not sufficient for the growing number of worshippers.

On the 8th September 1861, at a meeting of Congregationalists held at Jessie Hood's premises, it was decided to form their own church. The Temperance Hall on Railway Road was leased for a period of two years as a temporary measure. Fate then took a hand when a local textile firm, Thomas Gerrard and Son, gave them a plot of land in Bobby Lane (the old name for Railway Road), on which to build a church of their own. Adlington Congregational Church was completed and opened for worship on the 8th February 1865. The £1,573 cost of erection was raised by subscription and the church was calculated to accommodate 500 persons.

The church is now named The United Reformed Church. In 2002 Adlington United Reformed Church and Adlington Methodist Church joined together and now worship at the Railway Road site as Adlington United Reformed and Methodist Church.

Ministers: Rev Mike Thomason, and Rev Janet Clasper

As stated early a Primitive Methodist Church existed in Park Road. In 1931 all sections of the Methodist faith were reunited, and the Primitive Methodist Church was demolished.

With the increased population it was decided around 1880 that a new church was need as Christ Church was too small. The first stone was laid by Col. F. Stanley M.P. on the 3rd November 1883. The church was to cost £6.988 and was consecrated in 1885. In 1910 a school was also built.

During the First World War the Reverend collected photographs of local men who were serving in the armed forces. These pictures were display around the village for the duration. In 1919 after the war, the Reverend proposed a tower be built at the church as a memorial to the men killed in the war. Although £750 was raised this was not deemed adequate, and it was not until 1932 that Lord Stanley, MP laid the foundation stone for the tower. It was lord Stanley's grandfather who had laid the first stone of the church.

A corrugated iron building was purchased from Nelson in 1900 and this was re-assembled on land off Golborne Street (now Mayfield Avenue), Adlington, for use as a church. The premises were dedicated to St. Philip and the services were conducted under the aegis of the Protestant Reform Church. The church was finally closed in 1934. Services then took place at Christ Church which had stood empty for considerable period. The organ, pews and church ornaments from St. Philip's were removed to Christ Church once the building was rendered suitable for re-use.

There was resentment felt between the two churches of St. Paul and St. Philip - which, with hindsight, was a great pity because so much more could have been achieved with a united congregation. Indeed, it may well have been possible to build the tower on St. Paul's Church much earlier if this had been the case. Nevertheless, it took over thirty years for some form of compromise to be reached, in effect from 1900 until 34. As a reference to the structure, St. Philip's Church was known locally as the 'tin mission'.