St Mary's Church, Yealand Conyers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Yealand Conyers |
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West end of St Mary's Church, Yealand Conyers
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| OS grid reference | SD 504,741 |
| Location | Yealand Conyers, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Mary, Yealand Conyers |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Richard Gillow |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | E. G. Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1852 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Lancaster |
St Mary's Church is a special building in the village of Yealand Conyers, Lancashire, England. It's a working Roman Catholic church, meaning people still go there for services. It's part of the Lancaster diocese and works closely with two other churches nearby: St Mary of the Angels in Bolton-le-Sands and Our Lady of Lourdes in Carnforth. This church is also listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. You can find it at the south end of the village.
History
St Mary's Church was built in 1852. A man named Richard Gillow, who lived at nearby Leighton Hall, paid for it to be built. The church was designed by a famous architect from Lancaster, named E. G. Paley. Building the church cost between £1,100 and £1,200, which was a lot of money back then! In 2009, St Mary's Church officially joined up with the Roman Catholic churches in Carnforth and Bolton-le-Sands. They now work together as one big parish family.
Architecture
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is made from limestone, a type of rock. It has a very steep roof covered with slate tiles. The church has a main part called the nave, which has five sections. There's also a smaller, lower part called the chancel at the east end. On the north side, there's a porch where people enter.
At the front of the church, on the west side, there's a part that sticks out. It has a strong support called a buttress in the middle. On each side of this support, you can see a tall, narrow window called a lancet window. Above this part, there's a special double gabled bellcote where the bells are kept. You'll find more lancet windows all around the church. The east end has three lancet windows that are placed like steps. The corners of the church have diagonal buttresses to help support the walls. Above the porch door, there's a beautiful carving of the Virgin Mary in a special sandstone niche.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, the roof of the nave has a special design called a scissor-braced roof. The chancel roof has arch-braces, which are curved supports. Behind the altar, there's an amazing, carved screen called a reredos. The altar itself stands on marble columns. The rail in front of the altar is made of alabaster, a smooth, white stone, and has green marble columns.
The church has a special family pew for the Gillow family, located at the northwest end. Other seats in the church are box pews, which are like enclosed benches. These pews are carved with decorative ends called poppyheads. Only the window at the east end of the church has colorful stained glass. You can also find special metal plaques called brasses inside the church. These remember members of the Gillow family. Experts who wrote about the Buildings of England said that St Mary's Church was built to be bigger and more impressive than the Anglican church in the same village.
See also
- Listed buildings in Yealand Conyers
- List of works by Sharpe and Paley
