St Mary's Church, Newchurch in Pendle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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St Mary's Church from the southwest
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 St Mary's Church
Location in the Borough of Pendle
St Mary's Church
Location in the Forest of Bowland
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| 53°51′01″N 2°16′14″W / 53.8503°N 2.2705°W | |
| Location | Newchurch in Pendle, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary's, Newchurch in Pendle |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 29 January 1988 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 150 |
| Materials | Hammer-dressed stone with ashlar to the porch. Slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Newchurch in Pendle |
| Deanery | Pendle |
| Archdeaconry | Blackburn |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Newchurch in Pendle, Lancashire, England. It is a very important building, recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it has special historical or architectural value. St Mary's is an active Anglican church, serving its local community as a parish church. It is part of the diocese of Blackburn.
Contents
The History of St Mary's Church
A small church, called a chapel of ease, stood on this spot as early as 1250. A later chapel was officially opened by Bishop John Bird on October 1, 1544. We don't know exactly when the church tower was built. However, it was repaired in 1653 and again in 1712.
Most of the church building you see today dates from around 1740. In 1815, people decided to make the church walls taller. This was done to add a gallery inside, which is like a balcony for more seating. This gallery was built between 1816 and 1817. It cost about £352 at that time. In 1830, the church bought its bell. The church also had major repairs and updates in 1850 and 1902.
Exploring the Church's Design
St Mary's Church is built from strong, rough-cut stone. The porch, which is the entrance area, uses smoother, cut stone. The roof is made of slate. The church's layout includes a tower at the west end. It has a main hall called a nave and a side section called a north aisle. There is also a chancel, which is the area around the altar, and a south porch.
Outside the Church
At the east end of the aisle, there is a special area called the Lady Chapel. Next to this is the vicar's vestry, a room used by the priest. The choir vestry is at the west end of the aisle. The church tower has two main parts, with a stone band separating them. The upper part has a clock face. Above the clock, there are windows with stone bars for the bells. The top of the tower has a decorative, castle-like edge.
On the south and north sides of the church, you can see four windows with curved tops. At the east end, there is a large, fancy window with three parts, known as a Venetian window. It has a special wedge-shaped stone at the top. On the south side, there is a priest's door that is now blocked up. On the southwest corner of the nave roof, there is a sundial from 1718. On the west side of the tower, there is a carving that looks like a filled-in window. Some people say this carving looks like the "Eye of God."
Inside the Church
When you enter the church through the porch, you will see a memorial. This memorial lists the names of local men who died in the World Wars. It also includes the names of those who served in the armed forces during these wars. Inside the church, to the left of the entrance, are the churchwardens' seats. There is also a board showing the names of the different areas the parish was divided into.
The church has a row of columns on the north side, which are in the Doric order style. There are also wooden galleries on the north and west sides. These are like balconies that provide more seating. A beautiful chandelier hangs inside the church, which dates back to 1756.
The Church Organ
The organ, located in the west gallery, was built by Wordsworth and Company of Leeds. It was installed in 1890 and cost £550 at that time. The organ was repaired in 1990. Then, in 2000, it was completely rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison of Durham. This major rebuild cost over £75,000.
Features Around the Church
In the churchyard, there are two important historical items that are also Grade II listed. One is the Parker tomb, which is a table-shaped tomb from 1691. The other is the Nutter headstone, likely from 1694. It is thought that the Nutter family members mentioned on this headstone might have been related to Alice Nutter. She was one of the people accused during the famous Pendle witch trials. The churchyard also contains the war graves of two soldiers and a Royal Flying Corps officer from World War I.
Current Activities at St Mary's
St Mary's Church is still a very active parish church today. It holds regular church services for its community. In addition, St Mary's is one of the few churches that still holds an annual rushbearing service. This special event takes place every August.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Goldshaw Booth
