Church of St George the Martyr, Preston facts for kids
| Church of St George the Martyr, Preston | |
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | SD 538,294 |
|---|---|
| Location | George's Road, Preston, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| Website | St George the Martyr, Preston |
Quick facts for kids History |
|
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint George |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 September 1979 |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Sharpe (chancel) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1725 |
| Completed | 1848 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone ashlar Slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Preston St John and St George the Martyr |
| Deanery | Preston |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
The Church of St George the Martyr is a historic church located on George's Road in Preston, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it's a local church for the community and part of the Church of England. This church is very important historically and architecturally, so it's listed as a Grade II* building on the National Heritage List for England.
Contents
History of St George's Church
The Church of St George the Martyr was first built in 1725–1726. At that time, it was a "chapel of ease" for St John's Church in Preston. This meant it was a smaller church built to serve people who lived further away from the main parish church, making it easier for them to attend services.
The church was made bigger in 1799, and it's thought that the transepts (the parts of the church that stick out like the arms of a cross) were added then. In 1843, the church was covered in stone. The very next year, St George's became its own parish, which means it became an independent church with its own local area to serve.
In 1848, a new chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was added. This was designed by a famous architect from Lancaster named Edmund Sharpe. Later, in 1884–1885, the nave (the main part of the church where people sit) was made taller and redesigned. A gallery was also added in the south transept during the 20th century.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
When it was first built, the church looked like a typical Georgian-style building. However, over the years, many changes and additions have given it a Romanesque style. This style often uses round arches and strong, solid shapes.
The church is built from sandstone blocks, which are called ashlar, and its roofs are made of slate. The church's shape includes a nave with a clerestory (a high section with windows), aisles on the north and south sides, transepts, and a chancel with an apse (a rounded end).
At the west end of the church, there's a three-story tower that includes a porch. At the very west end, there's also a small baptistry (a place for baptisms). Most of the windows are round-headed, except for a round "wheel window" in the baptistry and circular openings in the clerestory. The tower has a special doorway with a pointed top, and the middle part has decorative columns called pilasters. The top part of the tower has openings for bells and a decorative band called a corbel table. The very top of the tower has a low wall (parapet) with a small pointed tower (pinnacle) at each corner.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, you'll see six-bay arcades. These are rows of pointed arches supported by round pillars (piers). The font, which is used for baptisms, is a round marble tub from 1865.
The church is also known for its beautiful artwork. The case for the organ was painted by a company called Shrigley and Hunt. The walls feature a series of paintings by Carl Almquist, who worked for Shrigley and Hunt. These paintings were created between 1885 and 1914. The colorful stained glass windows were also designed by Almquist. You can also find monuments from the 1800s inside the church.
The large pipe organ has three keyboards (manuals). It was built in 1865 by Henry Willis, a famous organ builder, and was first played by a well-known organist named W. T. Best. It was originally in the west gallery but was moved to its current spot in the north transept in 1883. The organ was rebuilt again in 1973.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Preston, Lancashire
- List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe
