St Oswald's Church, Warton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Oswald's Church, Warton |
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St Oswald's Church, Warton, from the northwest
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| OS grid reference | SD 498,723 |
| Location | Main Street, Warton, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 2 May 1968 |
| Architect(s) | Sharpe and Paley Paley, Austin and Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1892 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 62 feet (19 m) |
| Materials | Pebbledash with sandstone dressings, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Oswald, Warton |
| Benefice | United Benefice of Warton and Borwick with Yealand |
| Deanery | Tunstall |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Oswald's Church is a historic church in the village of Warton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it serves the local community. The church is part of a group of churches called a benefice, which also includes St Mary, Borwick and St John the Evangelist, Yealand Conyers.
St Oswald's Church is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a special building that needs to be protected because of its history and architecture. Next to the church, you can still see the old ruins of a medieval rectory, which was once the home of the local priest.
Contents
History of St Oswald's Church
The church you see today is likely built on the same spot where a church stood even before the 1100s. Most of the church was rebuilt in the 1400s, but parts of the old walls from the south side were kept. The north side of the church was either added or rebuilt in the 1500s.
In the mid-1800s, specific parts of the church were repaired. This work was done by architects from Lancaster named Sharpe and Paley. Later, in 1892, more extensive restoration work took place. This was carried out by Paley, Austin and Paley, who continued the work of the earlier architects. They replaced windows and rebuilt the roof.
The church has a special connection to the Washington family. This family includes the ancestors of George Washington, who became the first president of the United States. Since 1977, a Flag of Washington, D.C. has been kept inside the church. American soldiers gave this flag to the church. It usually hangs inside, but on the Fourth of July, it is flown outside on a flagpole.
What Does St Oswald's Church Look Like?
Outside the Church
The outside of the church is covered in a rough plaster called pebbledash. It has details made from sandstone and a slate roof. The church has a tall tower at the west end. It also has a main hall called a nave, with smaller sections on the north and south sides called aisles. Above the nave is a row of windows called a clerestory. There is also a chancel, which is the area near the altar.
The tower has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. It has openings for bells with three lights (sections) and a top edge with square shapes called a battlement. At each corner of the tower's top are pointed decorations called pinnacles. The old main door on the west side of the tower has been partly closed off and turned into a window. Above this, there is a small alcove called a niche. The tower stands tall at about 62 feet (19 meters).
Inside the Church
The tower once displayed the coat of arms of the Washington family. These symbols have been moved and are now placed inside the tower. The tower holds three bells. These bells are set up for a special way of ringing called full circle ringing, but they cannot be rung right now. The second bell dates back to 1571, the largest bell (tenor) is from 1731, and the smallest bell (treble) is from 1782. The second bell and the frame holding all the bells are very old and important.
In a small chapel on the southeast side, there is a special seat for priests called a sedilia. Experts believe this seat is from the late 1200s or early 1300s. The font, where baptisms take place, is shaped like a cylinder and is lined with lead. It has the year 1661 carved on it. Some of the pews (church benches) from the 1800s have old coats of arms on them. One of these is the Washington family's coat of arms, dated 1614. In the southwest aisle, you can see the royal coat of arms of Queen Victoria.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows made by different artists. These include Shrigley and Hunt, Ward and Hughes, and F. Burrow. There are also memorial plaques on the walls created by George Webster. In the vestry, which is a room used by the clergy, there is more stained glass by Shrigley and Hunt. This glass shows images of Saints Oswald, Patrick, and Aidan.
Outside the Church Grounds
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, is also a place of remembrance. It contains the war graves of eight soldiers who died during World War I. There is also the grave of a Royal Artillery soldier who died in World War II.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Oswald (Warton) para niños
- Listed buildings in Warton, Lancaster
- List of works by Sharpe and Paley
- List of works by Paley, Austin and Paley
