Church of St Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick |
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Church of St Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SD 893 480 |
| Location | Ghyll Lane, Barnoldswick, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| Website | St Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 29 January 1988 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | c. 1160 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, stone slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Barnoldswick |
| Deanery | Skipton |
| Archdeaconry | Craven |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | York |
The Church of St Mary le Ghyll is a historic church located in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England. It is also known as St Mary-le-Gill. This church is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves a local community. It works together with other churches in the area, like Holy Trinity, Barnoldswick, and St Michael, Bracewell. The church is very important, so it is officially protected as a Grade I listed building.
Contents
A Look at St Mary's History
The church you see today was built around 1160. It replaced an even older church that stood on the same spot. Monks from Fountains Abbey were responsible for building this church. Later, in 1524, a tower was added to the building.
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is built from stone, and its roof is made of stone slates. The church has a main section called the nave and a part near the altar called the chancel. There's also a side section, or aisle, on the south side with a porch.
The tower has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. There's also a small tower with stairs, known as a turret, at the southeast corner. You can see a decorative band with gargoyles (stone carvings of faces or creatures) on the tower. The tower also has windows and openings for the bells. The top of the tower has a wall with gaps, similar to a castle, called an embattled parapet.
On the south side of the church, there are three windows and a special door for the priest. On the north side, there are four windows, including a tall, narrow one called a lancet.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a row of five arches, called an arcade. These arches are supported by eight-sided pillars, known as piers. You'll find a full set of box pews, which are enclosed wooden seats. There's also a simple bowl-shaped font used for baptisms.
On the north wall of the main part of the church, there's a complete 17th-century pulpit. This is a tall, multi-level stand where the preacher gives sermons. The church also has painted boards with important Christian prayers and beliefs, such as the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and Creeds. There's even a special seat for the church officials, dated 1836.
The church has a set of six bells, known as a ring. Three of these bells were made in 1723 by Abraham Rudhall I, a famous bell maker. Another bell was added in 1870 by John Taylor and Company. The two newest bells were also cast by Taylor's in 2007 and 2009.
Things to See Outside
In the churchyard, there's a small stone building from 1824. This building might have been a watch house, used for watching over graves, or a bier house, used for storing a carrier for coffins. This building is also listed as a Grade II historic structure.
The churchyard is also home to the war graves of soldiers and sailors. These are the resting places for four soldiers and one Royal Navy sailor from World War I, and four soldiers and two Royal Navy personnel from World War II.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Barnoldswick
