Preston: St Matthew
Overview
Grid reference: SD 555 299
This relatively small but impressively tall Victorian Gothic stone church occupies a small corner plot laid to grass on a square, its west end facing onto New Hall Lane, now the busy A59 leading east out of Preston. The church was built in 1881-3 to a design by James Hibbert in the Gothic Decorated style. The design of the church makes full use of its location, presenting its best façade to the road.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay aisled nave and shallow apsidal chancel under one roof, north-west porch, south vestry block.
Dimensions:
Nave estimated to be c 24m x 8m (80ft x 19ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Preston has Roman, Saxon and medieval origins, but nothing of this is visible above ground. The town developed slowly through the post-medieval period, then rapidly expanded for the textile industry from the late 18th century, as with most Lancashire towns. The church was built in 1881-3 to a design by James Hibbert, who also designed the now demolished Preston St James (the Victorian churches of Preston have been decimated in recent years, with the closure and demolition or conversion of the churches of St James, St Mary, St Saviour, St Oswald, and St Jude amongst others). He was to go on to design the Harris Library and Museum in the heart of Preston, a vast and very fine neo-Classical building. The vestry was extended was added at some point in the early 20th century, and the sanctuary was restored in the 1960s in memory of a vicar, Revd Thomas Redfearn.
Exterior Description
The church is designed in the Gothic Decorated style and is a confident assay by this at the time unknown architect, proving his proficiency in the Gothic revival style as well as the Classical. The design of the church makes full use of its location, presenting its best façade to the road. There are some signs of vandalism, and the windows are protected in places by wire mesh.
The west front is quite dramatic with a huge 6-light window divided by mullions into three 2-lights under a large multifoil in the head, with a roof light above. The west gable has a wheel cross finial, with simpler crosses to the porch and east gable. There is a similar 3-light in the west wall of the south aisle, but the west wall is pierced by a stepped arrangement of a central 2-light flanked by lancets linked by a continuous hoodmould.
This is the side wall of a tall gabled porch which takes up the north-west bay of the nave, with a very tall and impressive pointed entrance with continuous mouldings recessing to the doorway, which is rectangular under a trefoiled head. This is perhaps the dominant external feature of the church. Above this is a recessed pointed arch in the gable containing a sexfoil.
The porch roof breaks into the steep nave roof, which is canted out over the aisles, the roofs of these shallowly pitched, an interestingly variegated profile. The aisles have 2-lights with simple Decorated tracery between gableted buttresses, similar in the canted walls of the apse, similar 3-light in the chancel east wall and in the east end of the north aisle.
The gabled vestry with lancet in the west wall has been added to and is rather an eyesore now, with an eastern-lean-to extension which has been rendered for some reason, and another flat-roofed addition on the west side, both with domestic windows. This part of the church is tucked away out of view, and there is rubble and other detritus piled up here.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 5-bay aisled
Chancel
19th century shallow apsidal
Porch
19th century north-west
Vestry
19th century south block
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th century coursed
Slate
19th century roof
Render
19th century vestry
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is quite dramatic, and there are several items of good quality. The baptistery at the west end has an encaustic tiled panel with text and a brass plaque recording its dedication in 1898. There is an internal glazed draught lobby to the porch entrance, and a plain glazed wooden screen creating a vestibule across the west aisle bays.
Looking east, the very tall arcades carried on columns with heavy foliate carved capitals carrying moulded pointed arches. The dark-stained scissor-braced roof is taken down to plain corbels, the lean-to aisle roofs have pierced spandrels. The nave is fully pewed with plain benches, but the aisles are clear. The floors are of woodblock. There is no chancel arch or other device to break the view to the High Altar.
The chancel is raised two steps, the sanctuary a further step, the floors carpeted. There are attractively carved choir stalls. A low sedilia on both sides within a broad moulded arch. A dark wood screen with filigree open tracery demarcates a chapel in the east end of the north aisle, with benches with high, partly glazed backs acting almost as screens to the west. On the south side is the organ behind a similar traceried screen, the pipes displayed to the chancel, with a space behind used for storage and two ornate Victorian chairs. A door in the east wall gives access to the vestry block.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Light stained pitched pine chest with pierced panels. Similar in north chapel.
Reredos
19th century curtains
Pulpit
19th century The pulpit is of dark oak, octagonal with linenfold panels on a stone base and clustered column stem. Flight of wooden steps with brass handrail, altogether a fine item.
Lectern
19th century Brass eagle.
Font (component)
19th century Octagonal font with cusped panelled stem, bowl with various symbols, Dove etc and inscription 'Suffer the little children' around lip of bowl.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century • The chancel windows are by Shrigley & Hunt of Lancaster depicting the Nativity and early life of Christ, 1930s. • East window north aisle, the Good Shepherd c 1934, in memory of Robert Rogerson. Part of same scheme. • Window in the north aisle, two rather stern saints (Matthew and Mark?), c 1950, modernist and mannered. • War memorial window in south aisle, St George and angel carrying scroll with names of the soldiers and sailors of the school fallen in World War I. • Window of 1910 (earliest glass in the church) in the south aisle in memory of previous incumbent, depicting Christ and the Apostles.
Plaque (component)
19th century Several brass.
Organ (component)
19th century Two manual pipe organ, given in 1891 by St James's church, rebuilt many times with parts of different instruments and considered unplayable.
Rail
19th century Cusped oak rails, simple.
Panel
20th century Inscribed in memory of those fallen in World War II.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Regimental Flags on the south aisle wall.
of Remembrance in glazed case.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 555 299
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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