St Anne's Church, Woodplumpton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Anne's, Woodplumpton |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | SD 49934 34445 |
| Location | Woodplumpton, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 11 November 1966 |
| Architect(s) | Austin and Paley (additions and restoration 1899–1900) |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Garstang |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Anne's Church is a historic church located in the village of Woodplumpton in Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it serves the local community. The church is part of the Diocese of Blackburn. St Anne's is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a particularly special building. The churchyard is also famous. It is believed to be the burial place of a 17th-century woman named Meg Shelton. People thought she was a witch.
Contents
History of St Anne's Church
Woodplumpton was once part of a larger parish. This parish was served by St Michael's Church. There is proof that a small church, called a chapelry, existed in Woodplumpton before the year 1200. Written records show this chapel was there by 1552.
The church building was mostly rebuilt in 1630. A new part, called the south aisle, was added in 1748. Later, from 1899 to 1900, a famous architecture firm, Austin and Paley, worked on the church. They added new parts and fixed up old ones. This included putting in new windows. They also fixed the roof of the north aisle. The firm repaired the arcades inside the church. They also made the vestry bigger. All these repairs cost about £2600. In 1966, St Anne's Church was officially named a Grade II* listed building. This special listing is for buildings that are very important and have a lot of historical interest.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St Anne's Church stands on high ground. It is located in the southern part of the village. The church is built from different types of stone. These include red and yellow sandstone and gritstone. The roofs are made of slate and stone slate. The church has a main area called the nave. It also has north and south aisles. There is a chancel at the east end. A tower stands at the west end. A small room called a vestry is on the north-east side. The nave and aisles each have their own gabled roofs.
The tower has a round-headed window. There is a square clock face on its south wall. It has a decorative border called a cornice. The top of the tower has an eight-sided cupola. This cupola has rounded arches. A small stone dome sits on top of the cupola. A weathervane is at the very top.
Inside the Church
The nave and the chancel are not separated by a wall. The chancel is enclosed by wooden screens. The north arcade has five arches. These arches are pointed and have sloped edges. They rest on eight-sided piers. These piers have decorative tops and bases. Both the north and south arcades are in the Perpendicular style. This is a type of Gothic architecture. The south aisle is about 13 feet (4 meters) wide. It is built in the Classical style. This means it has pilasters, which look like flat columns. It also has an entablature and a moulded cornice. The south aisle has a crenellated parapet. This means it has a wall with gaps like a castle. The church has two bells. One bell dates from 1596 and the other from 1837.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard is mostly to the south and west of the church. You can find stocks near the lychgate. Stocks were used in the past to hold people as a punishment. These stocks are from the 18th century or even earlier. They have been repaired. They have two stone posts with round tops. The right post has the initials "AB" carved into it. These stocks are also a Grade II listed item.
There is a sundial south of the church. A sundial tells time using the sun's shadow. The dial sits on an eight-sided stone post. It is dated 1657. The part that tells time and the pointer are made of brass. This sundial is also a Grade II listed item. Other listed items in the churchyard include an old gateway. This gateway is from the 18th century or earlier. There is also a mounting block from a similar time. A mounting block helped people get onto horses.
Woodplumpton churchyard is famous for another reason. It is said to be the burial place of Meg Shelton. She was a local woman from the 17th century. People called her the "Singleton witch" or the "Fylde Hag." Legend says she was buried upside down. This was supposedly to stop her from escaping. A large boulder marks her grave. The churchyard also contains war graves. These are the graves of four British soldiers and one Canadian soldier from World War I. There is also the grave of a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve officer from World War II.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Woodplumpton
