Blackley, a township and an ecclesiastical district in Manchester parish, Lancashire. The village stands on the river Irk, near the Manchester and Leeds railway, 3 miles N of Manchester, under which it has a post, money order, and telegraph office. Population of the ecclesiastical parish of St Peter, 6189, and of St Andrew 1143. Many of the inhabitants are employed in cotton manufactures and in extensive dyeworks. There are two churches‹viz. St Peter's and St Andrew's, the latter being at Higher Blackley. The livings are rectories; gross value of St Peter's, £550 with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Canons of Manchester; of St Andrews, £300 with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Manchester. St Peter's Church, with accommodation for 1000 persons, was rebuilt in 1844 and enlarged in 1879, and is in the Early English style, with a fine tower, in which there is a peal of 13 tubular bells, and a beautifully illuminated four-dial clock. It existed as far back as 1545, consequently is in possession of some curious records and antique oak furniture. St Andrew's Church was built in 1866. There are four Methodist, and Roman Catholic and Unitarian chapels, a Church institute, and a reformatory. There are Conservative and Liberal clubs, the Blackley Co-operative Reading Room and Library, a fire brigade, a home for penitents, a convalescent hospital for children, and also some valuable charities connected with St Peter's Church.
