Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Up Holland facts for kids

The Church of St Thomas the Martyr is a historic church located on School Lane in Up Holland, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community as part of the Church of England. This important building is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in the country!

A Look Back: The Church's Story

The Church of St Thomas the Martyr has a long and interesting past, dating back over 700 years.

From College to Priory

The building started in 1307, not as a church, but as a college. This college was founded by Robert de Holland, who worked for a powerful nobleman named Thomas Plantagenet. The college was meant for a dean (a type of church leader) and twelve secular priests. Secular priests are those who live and work among the general public, rather than in a monastery.

However, things changed quickly. In 1319, the college was turned into a priory by Walter Langton, who was the Bishop of Lichfield. This happened because there were some issues with the priests' behavior. A priory is a type of monastery, and Up Holland Priory became part of the Benedictine order, which is a very old group of monks. It was actually the very last Benedictine priory to be founded in England!

Changes Over the Centuries

The priory was closed in 1536 during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries across England. Even though the priory closed, part of its church building continued to be used for worship.

During the 15th century, a tall tower was added to the church. What used to be the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) became the nave (the main part of the church where people sit) of the building we see today.

In 1772, the inside of the church was updated. They added galleries (upper seating areas) and box pews (enclosed seating areas). A plaster ceiling was also put in.

Becoming a Parish Church

Up Holland became its own separate parish in 1882, and St Thomas' Church became its official parish church. The aisles (the side sections of the church) were repaired and improved during the 19th century.

Between 1882 and 1886, a new chancel was added by an architect named Basil Champneys. He also built a crypt (an underground room) beneath the chancel, which was used as a vestry (a room where clergy prepare for services). Champneys also removed the old galleries, giving the church a more open feel.

Exploring the Church's Design

The Church of St Thomas the Martyr is built from stone, and its roofs are covered with slate. Let's take a closer look at its different parts.

Outside the Church

The church has a main section called the nave, which has four parts or bays. On either side of the nave are the north and south aisles. At the east end, there's a two-bay chancel with a crypt underneath. You can also see a round stair turret that leads down to the crypt.

The church has a tall west tower with four levels. It has strong, angled supports called buttresses. The main entrance is on the west side of the tower, and it's decorated with carvings of masks, shields, figures, and Tudor roses. Above this door is a large window with three sections, featuring detailed stone patterns called tracery.

Higher up, there are two-light bell openings (where the bells are) with wooden slats called louvres. Above these, there's a smaller top section with clock faces. The very top of the tower has a decorative wall called a parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall (it's embattled) and has pointed decorations called pinnacles at the corners.

Along the sides of the aisles, and at their east ends, you'll see windows from the 19th century, also with beautiful tracery. The chancel has two-light windows on its sides and a very large five-light window at its east end.

Inside the Church

Inside the church, the main arches, called arcades, are supported by columns known as piers. These piers have a special shape, like a four-leaf clover (quatrefoil).

In each aisle, you can spot two painted hatchments. These are diamond-shaped boards that display the coat of arms of a person who has died, often placed in a church after their funeral.

The south aisle has a board with the Ten Commandments written on it, and two lists of blessings. The north aisle displays the Royal arms from the time of King George I.

At the west end of the nave, there's a special pew for the churchwardens (people who help manage the church), dated 1679. In the base of the tower, there's a churchwardens' cupboard from 1720. Also in the south aisle, you can find a piscina (a stone basin with a drain, used for washing communion vessels) with two basins.

You might also notice small pieces of old, colorful stained glass in one of the south windows. The beautiful windows in the chancel were designed by an artist named Henry Holiday in 1884 and again in 1903–04.

Other Interesting Features

Just south of the church, you can see the limited remains of the old priory building. These remains are also protected as a Grade II listed site and a scheduled monument, meaning they are very important historical features.

The churchyard (the graveyard around the church) also contains the war graves of soldiers and an airman who died serving their country. There are five soldiers from World War I and two soldiers and an airman from World War II buried here.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
• Grade I listed churches in Lancashire
• Listed buildings in Up Holland