St Mary's Church, Penwortham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Penwortham |
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St Mary's Church, Penwortham, from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | SD 524,290 |
| Location | Church Avenue, Penwortham, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary, Penwortham |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 11 November 1966 |
| Architect(s) | E. G. Paley (rebuilding of nave and aisles) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Penwortham |
| Deanery | Leyland |
| Archdeaconry | Blackburn |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a historic church located in Penwortham, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community for worship and events. The church is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very important historical structure.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
Early Beginnings and Changes
The oldest part of St Mary's Church is the chancel, which was built way back in the 14th century. The tall west tower was added in the 15th century. Over time, parts of the church needed updating. The main area, called the nave, and the side sections, known as aisles, were rebuilt in 1855–56. This work was done by a famous architect from Lancaster named E. G. Paley. During this big renovation, the roof was made higher, and old viewing platforms (galleries) were taken out.
Modern Updates for the Community
More recently, between 2009 and 2011, the church had another major update. This time, the inside was changed to make it more modern and comfortable. Under-floor heating was put in, and the old wooden pews were replaced with chairs. This makes the space more flexible for different activities.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is built from strong stone, and its roof is covered with slate. The church's design includes a long main hall (the nave) with side sections (aisles) on both the north and south sides. It also has a small entrance area (south porch), the chancel at the east end, and a tall tower at the west end.
The tower is a key feature, with strong diagonal supports called buttresses. It has a battlemented top, like a castle, with decorative points called pinnacles. On the west side of the tower, there's a main doorway with a large window above it. This window has beautiful stone patterns, known as Perpendicular tracery. Above the window, there's a special carved space (a niche) with fancy decorations. The openings for the bells have two sections and are covered with louvred slats. The sides of the nave have five windows, each with two sections. You can also see a blocked-up door on the south wall of the chancel, which has the date 1653 carved into a stone above it.
Inside the Church
Special Features and History
Inside St Mary's, the arched walkways (called arcades) are supported by alternating round and eight-sided pillars. The church has an interesting history with its fonts. An old font from 1667 was once here. In the 18th century, a marble font was given to the church in 1725. The font used today, made of Caen stone and eight-sided, was a gift in 1856. The older fonts were moved around, but the 1667 font eventually returned to Penwortham Church in 1906.
You can also find memorial tablets inside. One remembers John Horrocks, a cotton manufacturer and a politician (someone involved in government). He passed away in 1804 and is buried in a special tomb outside the church. Some of the chancel windows still have small pieces of old stained glass. Before the recent updates, the church had special box pews from 1855. The church organ is located in the west gallery and was installed in 1959. The tower holds eight bells, all made in 1965.
Modernizing the Interior
Between 2009 and 2011, the church's interior was completely updated. This was mainly to install new underfloor heating, because the old heating system was very worn out. The work involved digging up the entire floor in both the nave and the chancel to put in the new heating system. Before this, all the church's furniture, like pews and the pulpit, had to be removed.
During the digging, they found that the nave had been made longer in the 19th century to fit more people. This extension went over some old, collapsed graves, which could have made the new floor unstable. They also discovered three crypts (underground burial chambers) containing remains of people buried before 1856. An archaeological team carefully studied these crypts. The remains were examined and then re-buried in the largest crypt before the new floor was laid. These crypts had been hidden since church records were lost in a fire in 1856.
To make sure the new floor was strong, special supports and concrete frames were put in. The heating system was then installed and covered with stone flags. Now, the entire floor of the church is on one level. The old pews were replaced with chairs, making the inside of the church feel bright and open. This allows the church to be used in many different ways. During the renovation, church services were held in the St. Mary's Church Hall. A special celebration service was held on June 19, 2012, to mark the completion of the work.
Outside the Church Grounds
The churchyard has several interesting historical features. Four structures here are also listed buildings, meaning they are important to protect. These include two old gravestones from 1682 and 1686. To the south of the church, there's a sundial from 1815, which tells time using the sun's shadow.
John Horrocks, the politician mentioned earlier, has a second memorial in the churchyard. It's a large tomb chest that also remembers other members of his family. This tomb is also a Grade II listed building. The churchyard is also a resting place for service personnel. It contains the war graves of nine people who died in World War I and 13 people who died in World War II.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Penwortham
- List of works by Sharpe and Paley
