Within the building there is a small gallery at the west end, and the private pews are arranged in two rows, one being placed along each side of the body of the church, whilst the central portion is filled with open benches, or forms, free to all worshippers. A marble tablet “To the memory of Jacob Morris, a faithful warden for 20 years, who died Oct., 1871,” is fixed against the south wall, and over the mantel-piece in the vestry is a white-lettered black board stating that—“This Church was erected in the year 1835, containing 323 sittings; and, in consequence of a grant from the Incorporated Society for promoting the enlargement, building, and repairing of churches and chapels, 193 of that number are hereby declared to be free and unappropriated for ever.—David Hilcock Leighton, minister; James Smith and Richard Wright, churchwardens.” On the font is the following inscription:—“Presented to Thornton Church by Elizabeth Nutter, of Rough Hall, Accrington, July 13th, 1874.” Mr. James Baines, of Poulton, by will dated 6th of January, 1717, devised to Peter Woodhouse, of Thornton, and six others, and their heirs, the school-house lately erected by him on Thornton Marsh, and the land whereon it stood, to be used for ever as a free school for the children of the township; in addition he bequeathed to the same trustees several closes in Carleton, called the Far Hall Field, the Middle Hall Field, and the Vicar’s Hey, amounting to about twenty-one acres, to the intent, that the annual revenue therefrom, less 10s. to be expended each year in a dinner for the trustees, should be devoted to the payment of a suitable master. In 1806, Richard Gaskell, the sole surviving trustee, conveyed by indenture to John Silcock, John Hull, Thomas Barton, of Thornton, Charles Woodhouse of Great Carleton, Bickerstaff Hull, and Thomas Hull, and the said Richard Gaskell, their heirs and assigns, the premises above-mentioned, for the purposes set forth in the will of the founder.[97] A further endowment of £500 was left by Mr. Simpson, with a portion of which farm buildings have been erected on the school estate. The school-house is situated on the east side of Cleveleys Station, and consists of a small single-storey building, having two windows and a central doorway in front. To the west end is attached a two-storey teacher’s residence. The double erection was built some years ago, by subscription amongst the inhabitants, on the site of the original fabric at a cost of rather more than £100. The master is elected and, when necessary, dismissed by the trustees, who forego their claim on the 10s. left for an annual dinner. In 1867 the number of scholars amounted to eighty-eight, fifty-nine of whom were boys, and twenty-nine girls, presenting about an average attendance since that date.