St Matthew's Church, Burnley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew's Church, Burnley |
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St Matthew's Church, Burnley, from the South-East
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| Location | St Matthew Street, Burnley, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| Website | http://www.stmatthewsburnley.com |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 7 October 1876 |
| Consecrated | 1 November 1879 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | William Waddington, Henry Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1876 |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Burnley (Habergham Eaves) St. Matthew the Apostle with Holy Trinity |
| Deanery | Burnley |
| Archdeaconry | Blackburn |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Matthew's Church is a church located in Burnley, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. The church is a parish church, serving the local community.
The first St Matthew's Church was built between 1876 and 1879. It was designed by William Waddington and Sons. Sadly, this building was destroyed by a fire in 1927. The church you see today was built to replace it. In the 1970s, St Matthew's Church joined with the nearby Holy Trinity Church.
Contents
History of St Matthew's Church
Building the First Church
The first St Matthew's Church was designed by William Waddington and Sons. Construction took place from 1876 to 1879. On October 7, 1876, Miss Halsted laid the foundation stone. This is a special ceremony marking the start of building a new church.
The church was officially opened and blessed on November 1, 1879. This ceremony was led by the Bishop of Manchester. The church had beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were designed by famous artists like Kempe and Burne-Jones.
The Fire and Rebuilding
In 1924, electric lights were put into the church. On Christmas Day in 1927, a fire started because of these electrics. The fire destroyed most of the church, leaving only the walls standing.
The church was rebuilt between 1929 and 1931. Henry Paley from the architectural firm Austin and Paley oversaw this work. The rebuilding cost £14,093, which was a lot of money back then. The new church could seat 620 people. The Bishop of Blackburn opened the rebuilt church.
The longest-serving vicar (a type of priest) at the church was Revd F. Jones. He served from 1923 to 1945. In the 1970s, St Matthew's Church officially joined with Holy Trinity Church.
Church Design and Features
Architectural Style
The church is built in a style that looks like buildings from the 13th century. This is known as Gothic Revival. It has a small tower, called a turret, at its southwest corner.
Stained Glass Windows
The church has several beautiful stained glass windows. One window, made in 1951, was designed by Harry Stammers. There are also two other windows created by Henry Harvey.
The Organ
The first pipe organ in the church was built in 1880 by Jardine of Manchester. This organ was sadly destroyed in the 1927 fire.
A new organ was installed in 1933. This organ was originally built in 1920 for another church. It was moved to St Matthew's and rebuilt by Laycock and Bannister. This organ has three keyboards, called manuals, for the organist to play.
St Matthew's Church Today
St Matthew's Church is still an active Anglican parish church. It is part of the diocese of Blackburn. The church holds services on Sundays and during the week.
St Matthew's and Holy Trinity Church now work together as one parish. This means they share resources and support each other. The church also has groups for young people, like Scouts and Guides. The Mothers' Union is another group connected to the church.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1916–44)
- Places of worship in Burnley
