William Houldsworth, the son of Henry Houldsworth and Helen Hamilton, was born in 1834. In the 1860's Houldsworth built his cotton mill on a "green-field" site here in Reddish. The mill still stands, recently restored and redeveloped as housing, college, and office accommodation. At the time of its building, this was largest cotton-spinning mill in the world. That Sir William was a social pioneer is proved by his far-sighted provision of good-quality housing in Reddish for his workers. This reflected the ideas of Robert Owen and Houldsworth's contemporary, the Yorkshireman, Sir Titus Salt.

Chairman of the Fine Cotton Spinners' Association, Houldsworth was elected as Conservative MP for North West Manchester in 1883.
 
Sir William was a committed Christian and a noted philanthropist. He was also a gifted organist and commissioned William Hill of London to provide instruments, not only for St Elisabeth's, but also for other churches, including Manchester Cathedral.
 
Houldsworth, who was Britain's delegate at the European Monetary Conference in Brussels in 1892, retired from the House of Commons at the 1906 General Election. He died on 18th April 1917.