Pleasington Priory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pleasington Priory |
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| Church of St Mary and St John Baptist | |
Pleasington Priory from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SD 643,266 |
| Location | Pleasington, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 24 November 1966 |
| Architect(s) | John Palmer |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1816 |
| Completed | 1819 |
| Construction cost | £23,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Ashlar, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Salford |
Pleasington Priory, also known as the Church of St Mary and St John Baptist, is a beautiful Catholic church. You can find it in the village of Pleasington, in Lancashire, England. This church is very special! It is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it's super important and protected. A famous expert on buildings, Nikolaus Pevsner, called it an "astonishing church." It was built before Catholics had full freedom to practice their faith openly in England.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
Building a Special Place
This amazing church was built a long time ago, between 1816 and 1819. A kind man named John Francis Butler paid for it. He spent a lot of money, about £23,000, which was a huge amount back then! He built it as a "thank offering," meaning he was thankful for something. The church was designed by an architect named John Palmer. A sculptor named Thomas Owen helped create some of its beautiful carvings.
Changes to the Parish
In 2018, the priest, Canon Kevin Kenny, retired. Because of this, Pleasington Priory joined with two nearby churches. These were St Peter in Chains and St John Vianney. Together, they formed a new, bigger parish called St Oscar Romero. The main priest for this new parish, Fr Shaun Braiden, lives at St Peter's.
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church
The church is built from ashlar, which is finely cut stone. Its roofs are made of slate. It's a very large and tall church, mixing different Gothic styles. The church has a long main area called a nave with five sections. It also has side areas called aisles and a rounded end called an apse.
You enter the church from the west side through a large doorway. Above this doorway are three statues. Under the middle statue, you can see a carving of John Butler in a military uniform. Above the statues, there's a carved arch and a small wall. Then, there's a big round window called a rose window. The roof ends in a pointed section called a gable, topped with a cross.
On each side of the main entrance, there's an eight-sided tower called a turret. Each turret has a tall, pointed top called a pinnacle. Outside these turrets are small offices. Each office has a special carved space called a niche. One niche shows the architect's name, and the other shows the sculptor's name.
The side aisles have five windows, each with five sections. They also have walls that look like castle walls, called battlements. Above the aisles, there's a row of windows called a clerestory. These are triple lancet windows, which are tall and narrow. The rounded end of the church, the apse, has tall, five-section windows. These are in the Perpendicular style, which means they are very upright. On the south side, there's a special door just for the priest.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll see that the ceiling is rib vaulted. This means it has stone ribs that create a beautiful pattern. There are also carved decorations called bosses where the ribs meet. The main area has four-section arches called arcades. These arches have a zigzag pattern known as dogtooth decoration.
On each side of the altar, there is a carved picture called a relief. One relief shows the Beheading of St John. The other relief shows Mary Magdalene. These carvings add to the church's detailed beauty.
Outside the Church Grounds
The churchyard is the area around the church. Here, you will find the war graves of soldiers. Eight service members from the First World War are buried here. Also, nine service members from the Second World War are buried here. These graves remind us of their sacrifice.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Pleasington
