St John's Church, Silverdale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John's Church, Silverdale
St John's Church, Silverdale, from the west
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OS grid reference	SD 463 754
Location	Emesgate Lane, Silverdale, Lancashire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St John, Silverdale
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	2 May 1968
Architect(s)	Ball and Elce
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival (Decorated)
Groundbreaking	1884
Completed	1886
Specifications
Materials	Limestone, sandstone dressings, red tile roof
Administration
Parish	Silverdale
Deanery	Tunstall
Archdeaconry	Lancaster
Diocese	Blackburn
Province	York

St John's Church is a beautiful old church located in Emesgate Lane, Silverdale, Lancashire, England. It's an active church that belongs to the Church of England. This church is very special because it's listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's an important historical site. People especially admire the amazing stone carvings inside the church.

The Church's Story

Before the current church, there was an older chapel in Silverdale. This chapel was rebuilt in 1829. The church you see today was built much later, between 1884 and 1886. It was designed by architects named Ball and Elce from Manchester. After the new church was finished, the old chapel was used as a place for funeral services.

Church Design and Features

Outside the Church

The church is built using local grey limestone and has details made from buff sandstone. It has a bright red tile roof. The church's layout includes a main area called the nave with four sections, and a row of windows high up called a clerestory. There are also side sections called aisles on the north and south, a porch at the north entrance, and two side wings called transepts. The chancel, where the altar is, is a bit lower than the rest of the church. At the west end, there's a tall tower.

The tower has three levels. It has a fancy doorway at the bottom and strong corner supports called buttresses. In the middle part of the tower, there's a window with three sections and decorative stone patterns. The top level has two bell openings on each side. At the very top, there's a wall with a jagged edge, like a castle, and stone gargoyles at the corners. The church windows are in a style called Decorated Gothic, and the windows in the clerestory are round.

Inside the Church

The inside of St John's Church is made from sandstone. The arcades, which are rows of arches, have strong piers (columns) and pointed arches. The roof is made of open timber, showing the wooden beams.

The detailed stone carvings inside the church were created by J. J. Millson from Manchester. These carvings include a statue of Saint John in a special alcove in the tower wall. You can also see angels carved into the roof supports, called corbels. The tops of the piers, called capitals, show scenes from the Book of Revelation. The decorative screen behind the altar, known as the reredos, was designed by Ball and carved by Millson.

In the chancel, there's a triple sedilia, which is a set of three seats for the clergy. The font, used for baptisms, is decorated with carvings of plants, patterns, and columns. The furniture in the choir area and the pulpit (where sermons are given) were made by James Hatch from Lancaster.

The church also has beautiful stained glass windows. Some in the south aisle were made around 1926 by H. G. Hiller and Company, and others from the 1930s by Arthur George Moore of Liverpool. The round windows in the clerestory were designed by Carl Almquist of Shrigley and Hunt in 1891. The large stained glass window at the west end, also by Almquist, shows the Nativity (the birth of Jesus) and was made in 1886.

The church has a pipe organ with two keyboards, built in 1897 by Abbott and Smith from Leeds. There are also six bells in the tower, all cast in 1886 by John Warner and Sons.

In 2013, a glass screen was added between the tower and the main part of the church. This screen, which measures about 6 meters by 2.5 meters, helps to stop drafts. It's also a piece of art called "Revelation," created by Lancashire artist Sarah Galloway.

Why This Church Is Special

St John's Church was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building on May 2, 1968. This special listing means it's a "particularly important building of more than special interest." Experts say that the church's interior is unique because of its "high quality of stone carving." Architectural writers Hartwell and Pevsner also noted that the carved work "makes the interior memorable."

More to Explore

• Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
• Listed buildings in Silverdale, Lancashire