 Sharpe appointed Paley as his partner in 1845 , and then took an increasing interest in activities outside the practice . By 1847 Paley was responsible for most of the work in the practice , certainly carrying out independent commissions from at least 1849 . In 1851 , the year of Paley 's marriage to Sharpe 's youngest sister , Frances , Sharpe formally withdrew from the practice , although it continued to be known as Sharpe and Paley until 1856 . Being the only major architect practising in the area between Preston and Carlisle , Paley took on commissions of all sizes and types but , like Sharpe , his major designs were for churches . Between 1851 and 1867 he designed or rebuilt about 36 new churches , almost all of them for the Church of England , with a small number for Congregationalists and Roman Catholics . Among his earlier churches were St Patrick , Preston Patrick ( 1852 – 53 ) , St Anne , Thwaites ( 1853 – 54 ) , and Christ Church , Bacup ( 1854 ) . 
