St Cuthbert's Church, Darwen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Cuthbert's, Darwen |
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St Cuthbert's Church in 2008
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| OS grid reference | SD 68537 23302 |
| Location | Darwen, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Architect(s) | Paley and Austin |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Darwen with Tockholes |
| Deanery | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Archdeaconry | Blackburn |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Cuthbert's Church is a beautiful old church in Darwen, a town in Lancashire, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. This church is still very active today! It was built a long time ago, between 1875 and 1878, by famous architects named Paley and Austin. Because it's so special, it's been given a Grade II listed building status by English Heritage. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
Discover the History of St Cuthbert's
St Cuthbert's Church was built from 1875 to 1878. It was designed by a well-known architecture company called Paley and Austin from Lancaster. Later, a tall tower was added to the church between 1907 and 1908.
On September 27, 1984, English Heritage officially recognized St Cuthbert's as a Grade II listed building. This special title means the church is "nationally important and of special interest." It's the lowest of three grades, but still very important!
The church is an active part of the Church of England. It belongs to the Diocese of Blackburn, which is like a large area managed by a bishop. This diocese is part of the larger Province of York. St Cuthbert's is also in the archdeaconry and Deanery of Blackburn with Darwen.
Explore the Church's Architecture
St Cuthbert's Church is built from yellow sandstone, which is a strong, natural rock. Its roofs are made of slate, a type of rock that splits into thin sheets.
Outside the Church: Key Features
The church has a tall tower at its west end. There's a main area called the nave with aisles on the sides. It also has a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is, and a vestry, a room used by the clergy.
You'll also see transepts, which are parts of the church that stick out like arms, on the north and south sides of the nave. The tower is rectangular and has three levels, with a pointed roof called a gable. High up on each side of the tower, there are clock faces.
At one corner of the tower, where it meets the nave, there's a small, round tower called a polygonal turret. The west wall of the tower has two large windows with transoms (horizontal bars) and beautiful stone patterns called tracery. There are also special windows for the belfry, where the bells are kept.
The windows in the upper part of the nave, called the clerestory, have two sections and a special shape at the top called a cinquefoil head. The east window in the chancel is very large, with five sections and detailed tracery.
Inside the Church: What You'll See
Inside, the nave has four sections, called bays. The arcade (a row of arches) is supported by columns that have eight sides, making them octagonal.
In the chancel, there's a beautiful marble reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar. It was designed by Powell. The church also has amazing stained glass windows. One window is a special memorial for war, created by Morris & Co.. Another window shows Saint Chad and Saint Cuthbert, made by a company called Shrigley and Hunt.
In 1877, the church received its organ from a parish church in Kendal. The wooden case around the organ was made by a famous organ builder named Bernard Smith.
See also
- Listed buildings in Darwen
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
