Nominal: 840 Hz Weight: 1260 lbs Diameter: 39.5" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Samuel II Smith 1717
Dove Bell ID: 50618 Tower ID: 18064 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bacup: St John the Evangelist
Overview
Grid reference: SD 867 230
Built in 1882-3, designed by James Medland Taylor and Henry Taylor of Manchester, a prolific practice in the North-West, the senior partner and chief designer being Medland. The church is designed in a mixture of the Early English and Early Decorated styles, although this is just a canvas onto which Taylor projects his vision. The church is set in a small churchyard defined by a coped stone wall, which is stepped down the slope on the show side to the east.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with west narthex and full-height aisles, south-west porch, south transept, polygonal baptistery at west end, chancel with north organ chamber, basement and various side offices.
Dimensions:
Nave c 23m (75 ft) x 8m (25ft), aisles of uneven width, the south aisle being narrower.
Footprint of Church buildings: 798 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1882-3, designed by James Medland Taylor and Henry Taylor of Manchester, a prolific practice in the North-West, the senior partner and chief designer being Medland. This church is one of his largest and most ambitious churches, comparable in scale with Falinge St Edmund, built 1873, which is however more complete and probably his magnum opus. Another large and in many ways comparable church is Blackpool Christ Church, where the planned south-west tower was also never built. Typical features include the complex timber roof structures of these buildings, compact massing and unusual details to the interior.
The planned south-west tower was never completed, the base serves as a porch with a gabled wooden roof. The planned lych-gate was never built, and the window tracery is simplified compared to the original concept. The north side of the church would also appear to have been rudimentarily finished off.
The new building replaced an earlier neo-classical church built in 1788, which had collapsed in 1871. This was the historic parish church of Bacup; previously the nearest Anglican place of worship had been a chapel in Newchurch, 2 miles to the west. Bacup is first mentioned in the 13th century but remained a hamlet surrounded by the (increasingly eroded) Rossendale Forest until c 1800 when the cotton industry took hold.
Exterior Description
A typically dramatic and unorthodox church from this most wilful of Victorian architects. The church is designed in a mixture of the Early English and Early Decorated styles, although this is just a canvas onto which Taylor projects his vision. The unfinished nature of the church, however, detracts from its quality.
The church has stepped bands on two levels, due to the presence under the east end of a large undercroft, built into the slope. The east end presents two unequal gables to the road, that to the chancel with a large 5-light traceried window and four plain basement lights, the lower gable of the north vestry set back on the north side with a 3-light window which has a cusped vesica in the head. A tall chimney rises from between the gables, which gives some extra vertical emphasis. There are stepped angle buttresses to each bay and also a short central buttress under the chancel east window.
On the south side the 2-bay chancel has at the lower level stepped lean-to cloisters with a doorway under a row of five lancets, and above these 2-light windows with hoodmoulds. The south transept has a large 5-light stepped lancet window with a hoodmould, and two lancets at the lower level. The south aisle has two windows in the second bay and one in the third bay, all these simple 2-light plate tracery windows, also such a 2-light in the east end.
The north aisle is very plain with similar windows, the buttresses irregular in form and distribution, suggesting that the original plans for this elevation were altered. The west end has a fine rose window in the gable and a lean-to extension embracing the polygonal baptistery, which has tall coupled lancets in the two exposed sides.
A large gabled porch (intended as the base for a tower) takes up the west bay. The porch roof is an overhanging gable.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1880s
East window, the Ascension, probably 1880s, by John Hardman
Stained Glass
1895
South transept window, Te Deum. Given in memory of John Howarth died 1891, window given by his widow in 1895. Signed Powell Brothers of Leeds
Stained Glass
1920s
South nave: Christ as the Good Shepherd, and blessing wine, 1920s.
Stained Glass
1935
South nave: St Mary the Virgin, and Sister Priscilla, died 1935.
Stained Glass
Baptistery windows with texts
Stained Glass
West rose window with decorative glass
Building Materials
Sandstone
Coursed sandstone walls
Slate
Blue slate roof with patterned bands of green slate
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is of bare stone, with little to relieve this starkness except the ranks of bench pews with poppy heads filling the nave and aisles. There is a red carpet of the central aisle over the stone flagged floors all the way up to the sanctuary..
The height of the nave makes an immediate impression, with an impressive scissor-braced roof with wind-braced purlins and alternate trusses, the arch-braces supported by hammerbeams. This is carried on arcades of columns with moulded shaft-rings, moulded quatrefoil caps, and 2-centred arches. The aisle roofs have kingposts and longitudinal bracing.
There is a similar 2-bay arcade across the west end of the nave defining the narthex. The bulbous quatrefoil cap of the single pier reminded this visitor of a mushroom, perhaps partly because of the rusticated treatment of these features. Beyond the narthex and opening off it is the apsidal baptistery, elaborated by encaustic tiles with texts around the walls, another Medland Taylor trademark.
Turning east again there is a low pointed and moulded chancel arch carried on engaged columns with caps as to the arcades.
The floor follows the slope down to the chancel, and there are stone steps to the chancel and sanctuary. The chancel roof is similar to the nave, with a central truss carried on short chamfered pilasters (carved and gilded angels as corbels), the bases of which rest on moulded circular caps to stove-pipe shaped columns curving into the wall below.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1880
Oak chest with carved arcaded front
Reredos
1880
Carved oak with central pediment and symbols of the Evangelists, of a piece with the altar.
Pulpit
1880
Square stone with open arcade of Decorated tracery, moulded cornice.
Lectern
1895
Brass eagle, good, given 1895 in memory of Mrs Hardman.
Font (object)
1880
Octofoil in plan marble font, supported by short columns, round base and octagonal plinth, set in the middle of a short flight of steps.
Organ (object)
1958
3-manual pipe organ by Henry Willis & Sons, renewed by Wadsworth of Manchester in 1958
Rail
1880
Oak rails, tracery.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 867 230
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.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 19/07/1862
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
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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