St John the Evangelist's Church, Gressingham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist's Church, Gressingham
St John the Evangelist's Church, Gressingham, from the south
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OS grid reference	SD 572,699
Location	Gressingham, Lancashire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St John, Gressingham
History
Dedication	John the Evangelist
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	4 October 1967
Architect(s)	E. G. Paley
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Gothic Revival
Completed	1862
Specifications
Capacity	120
Materials	Sandstone rubble Stone slate roofs
Administration
Parish	Whittington
Deanery	Tunstall
Archdeaconry	Lancaster
Diocese	Blackburn
Province	York

St John the Evangelist's Church is a historic church located in the small village of Gressingham, which is in Lancashire, England. This church is very important because it is listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is considered a building of exceptional interest and is protected.

The church is an active Anglican church, which is part of the Church of England. It serves as a parish church, meaning it is the main church for the local community. It is part of the diocese of Blackburn and works together with other nearby churches.

History of St John's Church

When Was the Church Built?

Some parts of St John the Evangelist's Church are very old, dating back to the 12th century. This means parts of the building are over 800 years old!

How Was the Church Changed Over Time?

The church has been updated and rebuilt several times. In 1734, some parts were rebuilt. Later, in 1862, a major restoration project took place. This work was led by a famous architect named E. G. Paley.

During the 1862 restoration, many changes were made:

• The old porch was removed.
• The south wall was rebuilt, and new supports called buttresses were added.
• New windows were put in.
• A new east window was installed.
• The north clerestory (upper part of the nave with windows) got new lights.
• The arch leading to the chancel (the area around the altar) was restored.
• New seating was added inside.
• The old ceiling was removed.
• The chancel floor was tiled.

All these improvements cost about £300 in 1862, which was a significant amount of money back then!

Architecture of St John the Evangelist's Church

What Does the Outside Look Like?

The church is built from sandstone rubble, which means it uses rough, uneven stones. The roof is made of stone slates. The church has a specific layout:

• A tower at the west end.
• A main area called the nave with a clerestory (windows high up).
• A north aisle (a side section).
• A chancel (the area near the altar) with a small chapel to its north.

The tower was built in 1734. It has three levels and strong, flat columns called pilaster strips. It also has a solid top edge called a parapet. There is a window on the west side of the tower.

The south wall of the nave has three sections, with a buttress (a support structure) between the nave and the chancel. The windows you see today were added during the 1862 restoration.

One very special feature on the south side is a Norman doorway. This doorway has three layers of decoration. The outer layer has a zigzag pattern, and the middle one looks like ropework.

On the west wall of the nave, near the south corner, there is a stone with ancient Anglo-Saxon carvings built right into the wall.

What Does the Inside Look Like?

Inside the church, the nave has an arcade with three sections. An arcade is a row of arches supported by columns.

The small chapel located north of the chancel holds a special tomb. This tomb belongs to George Marton of Capernwray Hall, who passed away in 1867.

The pulpit, where sermons are given, has simple panels and is dated 1714. The seats in the church are box pews, which are like enclosed boxes for families.

Two of the church's windows feature beautiful stained glass made by the famous company Morris & Co.. Just like outside, there are two more stones with Anglo-Saxon carvings inside the church.

Important Features Outside the Church

The churchyard, which is the area around the church, is also a place of remembrance. It contains the war graves of two soldiers. One was a British soldier from World War I, and the other was a British Army officer from World War II. These graves honor those who died serving their country.

Images for kids

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  St John the Evangelist's Church, Gressingham, from the south