Bolton-le-Moors: St Simon & St Jude
Overview
Grid reference: SD 717 73
A large late Victorian Gothic church of bright Accrington brick and terracotta, a blaze of redness. This and the fact that the tower can be seen for some distance within this area dominated by low brick terraced houses gives this suburban church local landscape value. The church was built in 1899-1901 to serve the growing southern suburbs of Bolton enveloping the hamlets of Daubhill and Great and Little Lever. The style chosen by the architect, R KnillFreeman, was his favoured version of Decorated, with his usual double-cusped tracery giving it the “spiky” look so typical of his churches; his other favoured motifs are also present and correct.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Transeptal with aisled 5-bay nave, north and south porch, south-west tower, 2-bay chancel, north chapel and south organ chamber/vestry. Now sub-divided with a split level hall occupying the western two bays. Cellar underneath.
Dimensions:
Nave c 22m x 8m.
Description of Archaeology and History
Bolton rapidly expanded from its Medieval core for the textile industry in the 19th and early 20th century, as with most Lancashire towns.
The church was built in 1899-1901 to serve the growing suburbs of Bolton enveloping the hamlets of Daubhill and Great and Little Lever. The architect was Ronald Knill Freeman, a prolific architect in the North-West responsible for many churches.
The church was reordered in 1986, the two western bays partitioned to form a split-level hall, with toilets and a kitchen etc. Plaques record that the Bishop and Ministers Kenneth Clarke and John Lee MPs were present at the various opening ceremonies.
Exterior Description
The style chosen by Freeman was his favoured version of Decorated, with his usual double-cusped tracery giving it the 'spikey' look so typical of his churches; his other favoured motifs are also present and correct. It is a distinctive building in the townscape.
The church has gables with cross finials, the aisles are also gabled, with much terracotta panelling. Stepped buttresses. The main view is from Rishton Lane, in this case the west facade, which is peirced by a large 5-light window, as is the east chancel wall and the end walls to the transepts. Most other windows are 3-lights, and are also all pointed. The exception is the fenestration of the 2-storey north vestry, a tall gabled block with 3-light windows in square frames to the lower stage and single pointed lights to the upper.
The south-west tower is a notable feature, it is of four stages with sheer angle buttresses stepping back to the crenellated and traceried parapet, with diagonal dragon spouts. 2-light pointed belfry openings, blocked up with brick. Under this, two lancets, and beneath this again a 2-light with square head. The south face has a pointed, moulded doorway, foundation tablet on the wall. Adjacent to this is the columbarium with many small plaques. The pointed doorway in the small north porch is now the main entrance.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
late 19th / early 20th century Transeptal with aisled 5 bay nave
Porch
late 19th / early 20th century north and south porch
Tower (component)
late 19th / early 20th century south-west tower
Chancel
late 19th / early 20th century 2-bay chancel
Chapel (component)
late 19th / early 20th century north chapel
Vestry
late 19th / early 20th century south organ chamber / vestry
Cellar
late 19th / early 20th century cellar underneath
Church Hall
20th century Partitioned split-level within the church
Building Materials
Brick
late 19th / early 20th century Church built of Accrington brick
Terracotta
late 19th / early 20th century Details and tracery
Stone
late 19th / early 20th century arcades
Timber
late 19th / early 20th century roof internal
Slate
late 19th / early 20th century roof external
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside, a solid screen with pointed glazed openings at upper level and door below separates the two western bays. The aisles have tall pointed arcades carried on quatrefoil stone piers without capitals, again a favoured Freeman motif. The walls have been painted pink throughout. Good nave roof with tie-beams. The east arch to the north organ chamber is blocked, and there are glazed timber screens of the 1920s and 30s across the arches to the south chapel and the chancel arcade of two bays on both sides.
The remaining bays of the nave and transepts are still fully pewed with good benches with squared ends carved with ogeed panels. A nave altar has been installed on a dais, a low stone screen across the chancel arch provides a ready made division here. The font has been moved here. Other moveable furnishings of the 1930s and later, the south Lady Chapel has chairs. The floors are of woodblock, mostly under carpet. The chancel has encaustic tiles. Choir stalls with rounded ends and tracery fronts. Both the chancel and chapel have a carved oak reredos. Pointed barrel-vaulted roof.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Table with tracery to High Altar and Lady Chapel. Modern nave altar table. Table at west end, war memorial altar.
Reredos
20th Century Oak reredos with blind tracery and central carving of Holy Family in semi-relief under a canopy, reflecting theme of stained glass window. Similar but without figures to Lady Chapel.
Pulpit
20th Century Hexagonal carved oak pulpit with open tracery panels matching the window tracery and moulded cornice, stone base.
Lectern
20th Century Oak eagle, base with spirelets.
Font (object)
20th Century Octagonal stone font with quatrefoil panels.
Stained Glass (window)
20th Century East window has the Adoration of the Magi and Holy Family, unsigned but perhaps dated between the Wars. South chapel has Christ in Glory, dated 1949 in memory of Ralph James; some glass with coloured roundels to the chancel side screens.
Plaque (component)
20th Century Several 20th century brass and wooden plaques.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers from 1901.
Bishop's chair and others
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 717 73
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
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