Grade I listed churches in Lancashire facts for kids
Lancashire is a county in North West England. In 1974, some parts of the old historic county were changed. They became part of places like Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Cumbria. Also, a part of West Riding of Yorkshire joined Lancashire. Today, Lancashire, along with the special areas of Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, forms the ceremonial county of Lancashire.
Buildings in England can get a special "listed" status from the government. This means they are important and protected. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport decides this, with advice from English Heritage. A Grade I listed building is super important and special, sometimes even famous around the world! Only about 2.5% of all listed buildings are Grade I. This article lists all the Grade I churches and chapels in Lancashire that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England.
Christian churches have been in Lancashire since Anglo-Saxon times, which was a very long time ago! You can still see parts of these old buildings in places like St Peter's Church and St Patrick's Chapel in Heysham. Some churches, like St Margaret, Hornby, even have pieces of old Anglo-Saxon crosses or carved stones.
You'll also find Norman styles in some churches, like St John the Evangelist, Gressingham, and St Saviour, Stydd. But most of the churches on this list are built in the Gothic style, which is known for its tall arches and big windows. Many churches were also "restored" in the 1800s, meaning they were repaired and updated. This often added new parts in a Gothic Revival style, like at St Bartholomew, Colne, and St Cuthbert, Halsall.
Most of these churches are Anglican (Church of England). But there are two Roman Catholic churches on the list from the 1800s, both in the Gothic Revival style: Pleasington Priory and St Walburge, Preston. Lancashire is mostly countryside, but it also has bigger towns like Preston and Blackburn, which used to be busy with factories. The churches were mostly built using local stone like sandstone and limestone.
Contents
Amazing Churches of Lancashire
What Makes a Church Special?
A church gets its Grade I listed status because it's considered very important for its history, architecture, or special features. It means the building is protected and can't be changed or knocked down without special permission. Think of it like a national treasure!
A Journey Through Time: Church Styles
These churches show off many different building styles from hundreds of years ago:
- Anglo-Saxon: The oldest parts, from before 1066. Look for simple, strong stone walls and carvings.
- Norman: From after the Norman Conquest (1066). These often have thick walls, round arches, and simple decorations.
- Gothic: Popular from the 12th to 16th centuries. This style features pointed arches, tall windows, and often fancy stone carvings. Many churches were built or changed during this time.
- Victorian Restoration: In the 1800s, many old churches were repaired and updated. Sometimes new parts were added in a "Gothic Revival" style, which copied the old Gothic look.
Meet the Churches!
Here are some of the incredible Grade I listed churches you can find in Lancashire:
- St Michael, Aughton
- Location: Aughton
- This church is mostly from the 1300s, but has older parts from the 1100s and 1200s, like a blocked-up Norman doorway. It has a tall steeple with an octagonal (eight-sided) top. Inside, you can find a piece of an Anglo-Saxon cross-head from around 850 AD!
- St Mary-le-Ghyll, Barnoldswick
- Location: Barnoldswick
- Built between the 1400s and 1500s, with some parts from the 1200s. The tower is from 1524. Inside, it has old box pews (like small wooden boxes for families to sit in) from the 1600s and a complete three-decker pulpit (a tall stand for the preacher) from the 1600s.
- St Peter and St Paul, Bolton-by-Bowland
- Location: Bolton-by-Bowland
- This church is from the 1400s. It was restored in 1885–86. The tops of the tower and the church walls are all embattled, meaning they look like the top of a castle wall. Inside, there's a special memorial to Sir Ralph Pudsay, who had 25 children!
- St Helen, Churchtown
- Location: Churchtown
- The oldest parts are from the 1200s, but most of the church is from the 1400s and 1500s. It has an embattled tower. Inside, there's a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) from around 1300. There are also wall paintings from the 1400s and 1600s!
- St Bartholomew, Colne
- Location: Colne
- This church is mainly from the early 1500s, in the Perpendicular style. It was restored in the late 1800s. Many of the furnishings inside are from this restoration.
- St Patrick's Chapel, Heysham
- Location: Heysham
- This is a ruined chapel from the 700s or 800s. Only parts of the walls remain. It's a very important historical site. Nearby are ancient rock-cut graves, which are also Grade I listed!
- St Margaret, Hornby
- Location: Hornby
- A church has been here since 1338, but the oldest part of the current building is the tower from 1514. It has an octagonal (eight-sided) tower and an apse (a rounded end) at the east. Inside, you can see two pieces of Anglo-Saxon crosses.
- Lancaster Priory
- Location: Lancaster
- Most of this church is from the late 1300s and 1400s. The west tower was added in the 1700s. Inside, there are beautifully carved wooden seats with misericords from around 1340. There's also a collection of Anglo-Saxon carved stones.
- St Leonard (old), Langho
- Location: Langho
- Built around 1557, this church is special because not many new churches were built then. Some of its parts might have come from nearby Whalley Abbey. It's now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust and is no longer used for regular services.
- Pleasington Priory
- Location: Pleasington
- This is a Roman Catholic church built between 1816 and 1819. It's a large building in the Gothic Revival style, but it doesn't have a tower. It has a big rose window at the west end.
- St Walburge, Preston
- Location: Preston
- Another Roman Catholic church, building started in 1850. Its steeple is one of the tallest in England, reaching about 309 feet (94 meters)! The main part of the church is made of sandstone, and the very tall steeple is made of limestone.
- St Wilfrid, Ribchester
- Location: Ribchester
- This church is from the 1200s. It was restored after a fire in 1917. The 1400s west tower has embattled walls. Inside, there are box pews, some dated 1735 and 1761. There's also a 14th-century wall painting of Saint Christopher.
- St Michael, St Michael's on Wyre
- Location: St Michael's on Wyre
- St Michael's is mostly from the 1400s. The west tower is likely from 1549 and was made taller in 1611. The Butler Chapel on the north side has glass from the 1300s, and a wall painting of the Ascension (Jesus going to heaven) from the 1300s.
- St Leonard the Less, Samlesbury
- Location: Samlesbury
- This church was mainly rebuilt in 1558, but has parts from the late 1100s. It has timber-framed (wooden frame) porches. Inside, you'll find box pews from the 1600s and 1700s, and even a set of armour believed to belong to Thomas Southworth!
- St Saviour, Stydd
- Location: Stydd
- This church is the only building left from a group owned by the Knights Hospitallers (a medieval religious order) in the late 1200s. It's a simple rectangular building with Norman windows and a doorway in the north wall.
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- St Thomas the Martyr, Upholland
- St Mary and All Saints, Whalley
- Location: Whalley
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The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints, Whalley
- This church is from the 1200s, with changes and a west tower added in the 1400s. It has a Norman south doorway and pieces of Saxon carvings. The inside is famous for its beautiful carved wooden furnishings, including choirstalls from the 1400s that came from Whalley Abbey.
