Weight: 343 lbs Diameter: 24.94" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1918
Dove Bell ID: 57935 Tower ID: 22301 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
New Bury: St James
Overview
Grid reference: SD 727 51
This is a simple, yet dignified Victorian church designed in the Early English style. The steeply pitched and unusually deep nave roof and tall gabled west belcote give considerable vertical emphasis. The interior is impressive in its scale, with the whitewashed space sitting under scissor-braced trusses of the roof. It was built from 1862-5 to designs by Isaac Holden & Son.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay wide aisleless nave, small chancel with north organ chamber and south vestry, south porch, extension along west wall.
Dimensions:
Nave 20m (70ft) x 10m (35ft), chancel 4m (13ft) long.
Description of Archaeology and History
Farnworth was originally a hamlet in Barton. In the 13th century it was held by the Lords of Barton and Manchester, later the manor was acquired by the Hultons of Over Hulton, who developed the quarries for the stone from which the church is built and the first coal mines in the 17th century. The town expanded rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries around coal mining, paper making, chemicals, iron smelting and cotton mills, several of the latter continue to dominate the town visually.
The parish church of St John the Evangelist was consecrated in 1826. The church of St James was built in 1862-5 to serve the expanding town, designed by Isaac Holden & Son of Manchester, a prolific local architectural practice. Holden was the founder chairman of the Manchester Society of Architects and designer of the impressive Ancoats St Peter, and a member of the wealthy Holden dynasty. The vestry was a slightly later addition. An extension was built across the west end in the 1970s which houses a kitchen, toilets etc. There were recent repairs and redecoration to the chancel.
Exterior Description
A simple but dignified church, designed in the Early English style. The steeply pitched and unusually deep nave roof and tall gabled west belcote give considerable vertical emphasis, lower 2-bay chancel and south vestry with crenellated parapet, gabled organ chamber. Paired cusped lights to nave bays and single ones to west wend, three stepped lancets to chancel east wall and 2-light plate tracery window to the west wall. Gabled south porch with cusped outer entrance. Buttresses of two weatherings to each bay. Plain west extension with domestic windows.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 5-bay wide aisleless nave
Chancel
19th century small
Vestry
19th century south vestry
Porch
19th century south porch
Stained Glass
20th Century
Early 20th-century scheme by Jones & Willis of London. East window has Christ as the Good Shepherd and in Majesty, other windows have saints. War memorial west window, 1922, Passion and Ascension, Arts-and-Crafts influenced, good. Two windows in the west nave bays installed 1965 by MU, by F W Skeat, lively.
Building Materials
Stone
19th century rock-faced local stone
Timber
19th century roof
Slate
19th century roof
Slate
1862-5
Slate
Interior
Interior Description
The whitewashed interior is simple but impressive in scale, and offers huge space under the heavy scissor-braced trusses of the nave roof. Floors under blue carpet. Plain pine benches, cleared at the west end, and more ornate choir stalls with carved ends. Tall pointed chancel arch with hoodmould and gilded stops, blue chancel walls and canted ceiling with plaster ribs painted white. The organ set within an arch on the north side is defunct. A carved oak reredos and good stained glass provides a dignified ensemble.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century chest, of a piece with the reredos
Reredos
19th century triptych the whole width of the chancel wall carved with Last Supper in centre and tracery carving to sides
Lectern
19th century wooden, plain
Font (component)
19th century Stone tub font has neo-Romanesque carving within arcading enclosing what appear to be Viking warriors around the bowl (reminiscent of the famous Lewis chess pieces), cable moulding around the base.
Plaque (component)
20th century Stone tablet to George Holden (relative of the architect and the local dynasty?), vicar 188-1901, and his wife Jane. Several brass plaques.
Organ (component)
19th century 2-manual pipe organ by F W Jardine of Manchester.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers beginning in 1865.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 727 51
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
Submit a change
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