St Lawrence's Church, Barton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lawrence's Church, Barton |
|
|---|---|
St Lawrence's Church, Barton, from the north
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | SD 517 372 |
| Location | Garstang Road, Barton, Preston, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Lawrence, Barton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 13 January 1986 |
| Architect(s) | R. Knill Freeman |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival (Decorated) |
| Groundbreaking | 1895 |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Lawrence, Barton |
| Deanery | Garstang |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Lawrence's Church is a beautiful old church located in Barton, a village near Preston in Lancashire, England. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. The church was built between 1895 and 1896. It was designed by a famous architect named Richard Knill Freeman.
The church is made from sandstone and has a main area called a nave, side sections called aisles, a special area for the altar called a chancel, and a tall tower with a pointed top (a steeple) on its southwest side. St Lawrence's Church holds regular services every Sunday and Wednesday. It's also recognized as a special building, listed as Grade II on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's an important historical building worth protecting.
Contents
History of St Lawrence's Church
The current St Lawrence's Church was built in 1895 and 1896. It replaced an older church that stood on the same spot, built in 1850. The first church was described as a small, simple building. It was whitewashed (painted white) and didn't have a tower or a spire. People said it looked more like a small country chapel or a quiet meeting house.
Exploring the Church's Design
St Lawrence's Church is built in a style called Decorated Gothic. This style was popular in England during the 13th and 14th centuries and was later revived.
Outside the Church
The church is built with yellow sandstone blocks, and it has special red sandstone details around the windows and doors. The roof is made of slate tiles, with red tiles along the top ridge.
The church's layout includes a main hall (the nave) with four sections, and a clerestory (a row of windows high up). There are also north and south aisles, a chancel (the area around the altar), a small chapel on the south side, and a tall steeple at the southwest corner.
The steeple has a two-part tower. It has strong buttresses (supports) that rise up to form pointed pinnacles at the corners. On the south side of the tower, there's a doorway with fancy moulded decorations. Above the doorway, you'll see two square-shaped lancet windows and a clock face. The very top part of the tower is eight-sided and has openings with louvred slats for the bells. On top of this is an eight-sided spire with small dormer windows called lucarnes.
Along the sides of the aisles, there are more buttresses. Between these supports are arched windows, each with three lights (sections) and beautiful stone patterns called tracery. The high-up clerestory windows each have two round-headed lights. The windows in the chancel are similar to those in the aisles, but they have a different style of tracery called Perpendicular. The large windows at the very east and west ends of the church each have five lights.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll see a series of arches called an arcade that separates the main nave from the aisles. These arches are supported by eight-sided columns with decorative tops.
The reredos, which is a decorative screen behind the altar, is made of wood and is also in the Gothic style. It has a special canopy with small pinnacles. The large west window has clear glass, but it also features special glass inserts. These inserts show a coat of arms and two shields, each with a boar's head design.
The church also has a large pipe organ with two manuals (keyboards). It was built in 1897 by a company called Harrison & Harrison. Later, in 1985, it was carefully restored by David Wells from Liverpool.
Why St Lawrence's Church is Special
St Lawrence's Church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on January 13, 1986. Being "listed" means it's a building of special historical or architectural importance. Grade II is the most common listing grade. It means the building is considered to have "special interest" and that every effort should be made to keep it safe and preserved for the future.
St Lawrence's Church Today
Today, St Lawrence's Church is still a very active parish church. It's part of the wider Church of England structure, belonging to the deanery of Garstang, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the Diocese of Blackburn.
The church is also part of a group of churches called The Fellside Team Ministry. This group includes St Eadmer in Bleasdale, St Hilda in Bilsborrow, St Mary the Virgin in Goosnargh, and St James in Whitechapel. Services are held at St Lawrence's Church on Sundays and Wednesdays, welcoming everyone.
See also
- Listed buildings in Barton, Preston
