Darlington: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: NZ 291 161
The church is built of grey sandstone in small undressed quarries. The most impressive aspect of the building is from the west, where the entrance facade is a study in carefully-contrived asymmetry. In the centre is the tall west gable of the nave, the south flank of the gable being shorter than the north as it is intercepted by the conjunction of the tower; at the top of the gable is a stone cross, and high, up within the gable is a vesica-shaped window to light the roof (there is another in the eastern gable of the nave).
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Chancel, with a vestry on the north; nave, with north and south aisles and a tower with a spire at the west end of the south aisle.
Description of Archaeology and History
I.P. Pritchett, FRIBA; built in 1870.
Exterior Description
The church is built of grey sandstone in small undressed quarries. The most impressive aspect of the building is from the west, where the entrance facade is a study in carefully-contrived asymmetry. In the centre is the tall west gable of the nave, the south flank of the gable being shorter than the north as it is intercepted by the conjunction of the tower; at the top of the gable is a stone cross, and high, up within the gable is a vesica-shaped window to light the roof (there is another in the eastern gable of the nave). Beneath this is the west window which has a wide pointed top underneath a hood-moulding: there are three principal lights, the central one being lower than the two flanking ones, and all three are trefoiled; in the head of the window is a large sexfoil wheel-light and the whole character of the tracery is heavy and robust. A simple west entrance door, again with-hood-moulding is beneath this. To the north is the aisle, with a lean-to roof and west window of trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in the head; this window sets the pattern for most of the windows in the church and it is worth noting that the architect's technique was to design a plate traceried window, ineffect, of two plain lancets with a circlet in the head and then to cut away the corners, of the lancets to make them trefoils and to cut away inside the circle to make a quatrefoil - this is what gives character to the external elevation of the building.
On the south side rises the tower, with attached buttresses and pairs of windows at ground and first floor level, the latter under a blank relieving arch; then comes the clock-stage, and above that the belfry with the unusual arrangement of a pair of two-light louvred, openings on each face, each with a quatrefoil in the head and hood-mouldings; finally the stone spire, eight-sided with broach spirelets at the corners.
The nave is five bays in length, and this is reflected in the five clerestory and five aisle windows on the north flank of the church; on the south side there are only four clerestory and four aisle awindows as the tower occupies the fifth bay at the west. The windows are all of the pattern described for the west windows of the north aisle. The chancel is of-two bays, with side windows on the south side only and the lean-to vestry on the north; the east window is of four principal lights with a sexfoil and tracery in the head similar to, but a little more elaborate than, the west window. The main building material is a local stone dressed to a rough finish and laid in small sizes, except for window tracery, copings, the spire, and so on which have.a smoother finish; the roof coverings are of Westmorland slates.
Interior
Interior Description
The walls are plastered and whitened internally. The arches of the arcade are of exposed stonework, contrasting strongly in tone with the plastered walls; the bases and capitals of the cylindrical piers are likewise of exposed stone, but the piers themselves have been whitened.
Fixtures and fittings
Reredos
1947
Divided into five panels ornamented at the-top with blank tracery.
Pulpit
1953
The wooden panels similar in manner to those of the reredos.
Lectern
20th Century
A brass eagle. A 1914 - 18 war memorial.
Churchyard
Grid reference: NZ 291 161
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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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