From these stations there are direct rail links to both Southport and Manchester, as well as connections at Wigan to the West Coast Main Line.
The church is first mentioned in 1205 but the vast extent of the ancient parish with its eleven townships (Adlington, Anderton, Charnock Richard, Coppull, Duxbury, Heath Charnock, Langtree, Shevington, Standish, Welch Whittle and Worthington) points to a very early foundation.