St Matthew's Church, Little Lever facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew's Church, Little Lever |
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St Matthew's Church, Little Lever, from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | SD 754,074 |
| Location | Little Lever, Bolton, Greater Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | St Matthew, Little Lever |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Matthew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 9 May 2003 |
| Architect(s) | E. G. Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1865 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Coursed rubble stone with ashlar dressings Slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. Matthew, Little Lever |
| Deanery | Bolton |
| Archdeaconry | Bolton |
| Diocese | Manchester |
| Province | York |
St Matthew's Church is a beautiful old church located in Little Lever, a town near Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it's a local church for the community. St Matthew's is very special because it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical and architectural site that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St Matthew's
St Matthew's Church was built in 1865. It replaced an older church from 1791 that stood across the street. The church was designed by a famous architect named Edward Graham Paley. He was from Lancaster. In 1924, the church's tower was made taller. This was done to remember the soldiers who fought in the First World War.
Church Architecture
Outside the Church
The church is built from strong stone called coursed rubble. This means the stones are laid in neat rows. It also has ashlar dressings, which are finely cut stones used for details. The roofs are made of slate. The church's style is called early Decorated Gothic.
The church has several main parts. It has a nave, which is the main area where people sit. There are also north and south transepts, which are arms that stick out from the sides. The chancel is the area near the altar. There is a vestry on the north side, where clergy prepare. A tall tower stands at the southeast corner.
The tower has four levels. It has a small stair turret (a small tower) in its corner. The bell openings have two lights and louvres (slats) to let sound out. The stair turret has small, narrow windows called lancet windows. At the top of the tower is a plain parapet (a low wall) and pointed pinnacles at the corners.
Along the walls of the nave, you can see windows with two lights. These are separated by buttresses, which are supports built into the wall. At the west end, there are large buttresses and a gabled porch (a porch with a triangular roof). There is also a beautiful round window called a rose window. On the south wall of the chancel, there is a small window with three lights. On the north side, above the vestry, are two lancet windows. The east end has a large three-light window with decorative stone patterns called plate tracery. The ends of the roofs have decorative tops called finials.
Inside the Church
Inside the chancel, there is a stone reredos. This is a decorated screen behind the altar. It has stone panels on each side that show the Ten Commandments and the Creed. There is also a double sedilia, which is a set of seats for the clergy.
The choir stalls, the front of the organ, and a screen are all beautifully carved. The floor of the chancel is covered with special Minton tiles. At the west end, there is a gallery (an upper floor) with a glass screen underneath it. The pulpit (where sermons are given) and the font (where baptisms happen) are both made of heavy stone.
The church has a large organ with three manuals (keyboards). It was built in 1884 by Brindley and Foster. The same company made it even bigger in 1911.
Churchyard Graves
The churchyard is the area around the church. It contains war graves for soldiers and sailors who died in wars. There are graves for five soldiers from the First World War. There are also graves for two soldiers and two Royal Navy sailors from the Second World War.
See also
- Listed buildings in Little Lever
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- List of ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
