As planned the route of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was to continue up the valley of the River Hyndburn to serve Accrington. However when it was extended from Enfield at the start of 19th-century, the route was altered as the Peel family's textile print works at Church was one of the largest factories in the world and used the river's water during the printing process. Building the embankment for the canal to cross the Hyndburn would have interrupted the water supply. Instead, the canal was built downstream, re-joining the original line at a right angle junction. Most of the land for the deviation had to be purchased from the Petre family of Dunkenhalgh. Although they supported the canal's construction, they requested that the towpath was made on the opposite side of the canal from the house, hoping this would prevent poachers from gaining easy access to their estate. Church is the halfway point on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.