St John the Baptist Church, Burscough facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist Church, Burscough
St John the Baptist Church, Burscough, from the northwest
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OS grid reference	SD 445 123
Location	Liverpool Road North, Burscough, Lancashire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St John the Baptist
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	11 August 1972
Architect(s)	Daniel Stewart William Waddington and Sons
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1829
Completed	c. 1932
Construction cost	£3,440 (£260,000 in 2021)
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, slate roofs
Administration
Parish	St John, Burscough Bridge
Deanery	Ormskirk
Archdeaconry	Warrington
Diocese	Liverpool
Province	York

St John the Baptist Church is a historic church located in Burscough, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community. The church is part of the diocese of Liverpool. It is also a very special building, listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is an important historical and architectural site. The church even received money from the Church Building Commission to help build it a long time ago.

The Church's Story: A Look at Its History

The church was built between 1829 and 1832. A person named Daniel Stewart designed it. The Church Building Commission gave a large amount of money, £3,040, to help with the building costs. This would be worth a lot more money today! The total cost to build the church was £3,440.

In 1857, galleries were added inside the church on three sides. These are like balconies that provide more seating. Later, between 1887 and 1889, a new chancel was built by a company called William Waddington and Sons. The chancel is the part of the church near the altar. Around 1932, a south vestry was added. A vestry is a room in the church used for changing robes and storing things.

Exploring the Church's Design: Architecture

St John's Church is built from ashlar sandstone, which means the stone blocks are carefully cut and shaped. The roof is made of slate. The church's style is Gothic Revival. This means it looks like churches from the medieval Gothic period, but it was built much later.

The church has a main area called the nave, which has five sections or "bays." It also has a chancel and a vestry on the south side. The front of the church, called the west front, has a pointed top like a triangle, known as a gable. This front is divided into three parts by four strong supports called buttresses. These buttresses go up to tall, eight-sided towers called turrets.

At the very top of the gable is a small tower called a bellcote. It has openings where bells can be heard, covered by small gables. The bellcote has a curved, pointed top with decorative carvings called crockets. In the middle of the west front, there is an arched doorway. Above it is a window that looks like it has three sections but is actually "blind," meaning it doesn't let light in. The sections on either side of the doorway also have blind windows with two sections.

Along the sides of the church, the sections are separated by more buttresses. Each section has a window with two lights. The corners of the chancel also have turrets. The windows on the sides of the chancel have two lights, and the large window at the east end has five lights.

Church Services: When to Visit

St John the Baptist Church holds regular services every week. On Sundays, there are three services:

• A 9am service
• An 11am Family Worship service
• A 7pm Youth Service, designed for younger people

There is also a service held during the week. This midweek service takes place at 10:30am every Tuesday.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
• Listed buildings in Burscough
• List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England