St Helen's Church, Churchtown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Helen's, Churchtown |
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St. Helen's Church in 2009
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| OS grid reference | SD 4816242798 |
| Location | Churchtown, Lancashire |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Helen |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 17 April 1967 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 62 feet (19 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Garstang St Helen |
| Deanery | Garstang |
| Archdeaconry | Blackburn |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Helen's Church is an old and important church located in the village of Churchtown, Lancashire, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. For a long time, it was the main church for the area of Garstang. Today, it serves the parish of Garstang St Helen (Churchtown).
This church is part of the Diocese of Blackburn. It's considered a very special building because English Heritage has given it a Grade I listed building status. This is the highest level, meaning it's a building of great historical importance. St Helen's is even known as the "cathedral of The Fylde" because of its size and history.
Contents
The Church's Long History
St Helen's Church is found near the River Wyre. The village of Churchtown, where it stands, was once called Kirkland. This church has been a central part of the community for centuries.
When Was St Helen's Church Built?
The oldest parts of the church date back to the 13th century. These include some of the main supports and arches inside the church. The church was largely rebuilt and updated in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Challenges and Changes Over Time
In 1736, the River Wyre flooded, damaging the church and its grounds. This meant the church needed repairs to be used again. Later, in 1811, the roofs were replaced, the walls were made taller, and new windows were added high up to let in more light.
More restoration work happened between 1866 and 1869. This was done by a famous architect named E. G. Paley. These repairs cost about £1,372 at the time, which would be a lot more money today!
Why St Helen's is Special
St Helen's Church was officially named a Grade I listed building on April 17, 1967. This top-level designation is given to buildings that are "exceptionally interesting" and sometimes even important worldwide.
How the Church is Organized
As an active church, St Helen's is part of the Church of England. It belongs to the Diocese of Blackburn, which is part of the Province of York. It also shares its services and leadership with St Michael's Church in St Michael's on Wyre. The official name for its local area is Garstang St Helen (Churchtown).
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church
St Helen's Church is built in a style called Perpendicular style, which was popular in England. It's made from rough stone with smoother, cut stones used for details. The church has a main area called the nave with tall windows (a clerestory) and side sections called aisles. There's also a chapel, a porch, a tall tower, and a chancel (the area around the altar). The roofs are gently sloped.
The west tower has six levels. It has strong supports on the sides and a top that looks like castle walls. There's a small tower with a pointed top on one corner. The openings for the bells have two lights (windows) with square tops. There's also a small window for the bell-ringing room and a clock on the north wall.
Inside the Church
The tower inside is about 11 feet square. You enter the main part of the church (the nave) through a large arch. The nave itself is about 55 feet long and 21 feet wide. It's separated from the side aisles by five large arches with round pillars.
Inside the nave, you can find a stone statue of a person lying down. This is for Alexander Butler, who passed away in 1726. There's also a special area called the Lady chapel to the south. It was set up in 1529 and has a small basin for water called a piscina. On the wall, there's an old Latin message that warns people not to chat too much in church!
The chancel, where the altar is, measures about 36 feet by 19 feet. The arch that separates it from the nave is in a style called Decorated style. The vestry, a room for clergy, is made of smooth, cut stone, which looks different from the rougher stone used for the rest of the church.
Stained Glass and Bells
Most of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were added in the 1800s. They were made by famous artists like Ward and Hughes, William Wailes, and Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
The tower holds a set of six bells. They are hung in a wooden frame and are rung from the ground floor. These bells were made in 1828 by Thomas Mears in London.
The Churchyard
The churchyard surrounds the church, mostly on the north and south sides. It contains many old sandstone gravestones, mostly from the 1700s. These have also been given a Grade II listing, meaning they are historically important.
There's a sundial in the churchyard that dates back to 1757. South of the church, you can see part of an old stone cross, likely from the Middle Ages. To the north-east, there's another stone cross. Its base is from the Middle Ages, but the top part was replaced in the 1930s. Both of these crosses are also Grade II listed.
See also
- Listed buildings in Kirkland, Lancashire
- Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
- Grade I listed churches in Lancashire
- List of ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
