St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton |
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St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SD 476,204 |
| Location | Bretherton, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St John the Baptist, Bretherton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1839 |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Consecrated | July 1840 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 30 January 1987 |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Sharpe Austin and Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1839 |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Construction cost | £1,058 (£70,000 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bretherton |
| Deanery | Chorley |
| Archdeaconry | Blackburn |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St John the Baptist's Church is a beautiful old church in the village of Bretherton, Lancashire, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. It serves the local community as a parish church. This special building is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. The church also received money from the Church Building Commission to help build it a long time ago.
Contents
History of St John's Church
St John's Church was built a long time ago, between 1839 and 1840. It cost about £1,058 back then, which would be a lot more money today! The Church Building Commission helped by giving £250 towards the cost.
Original Design and Construction
The church was designed by a famous architect named Edmund Sharpe from Lancaster. The land for the church was kindly given by George Anthony Legh Keck. When it was first built, the church could seat 400 people. In July 1840, the church was officially opened and blessed by Bishop John Bird Sumner.
Later Changes and Restoration
Over the years, the church has been updated. In 1898, it was restored by Austin and Paley, who took over Edmund Sharpe's work. They also added a chancel (the part of the church near the altar) and a vestry (a room for the clergy) between 1908 and 1909. Sadly, in September 2009, the church was damaged by a fire.
Architecture of the Church
St John's Church is built from sandstone with roofs made of slate. It has a main area called the nave with five sections, and a smaller area called the chancel with two sections. The nave has a "simple Gothic" style, which means it looks like older churches. The chancel has a "Perpendicular" style, which is a later type of Gothic design.
The Tower and Spire
At the west end of the church, there is a tall, thin tower. The bottom part of the tower acts as a porch, which is open on three sides. Above this, there are decorative stone bands. At the corners of the tower, there are buttresses (supports) that rise up to form pointy decorations called crocketted pinnacles. The very top of the tower has a stepped wall called a parapet. A slim, eight-sided spire rises gracefully from the tower.
Windows and Interior Features
The porch has an arched doorway with a narrow, tall window called a lancet window above it. The top of the porch is shaped like a triangle and has a cross decoration. The large window at the east end of the church has five sections and beautiful stone patterns called tracery. Inside the church, there is a gallery (a balcony) at the west end. It is held up by four thin iron columns. The church's organ, which has two keyboards (called "manuals"), was built in 1929 and later updated in 2000.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. It contains the grave of a soldier from World War I who was part of the Loyal Regiment. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
You can also find the graves of Sir Harcourt Clare and his family in the churchyard.
See also
- Listed buildings in Bretherton
- List of architectural works by Edmund Sharpe
- List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1895–1914)
- List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England
Gallery
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Interior – view towards altar
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Interior – view towards rear
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The font
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Clock
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Stained glass window
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The organ
