Whitchurch: St Catherine
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 543 412
The body of the church is built of brick, the west front faced with Grinshill stone in finely cut ashlar blocks. The tower is similarly faced. The roofs are slated except for the tower which is leaded. The only part of the church visible from the street is the west front (the orientation is reversed, but liturgical terminology is used here), and this is treated as a set piece in severe Greek Revival taste.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower with flanking projections housing the stair to the gallery. Rectangular nave and small rectangular chancel.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1836 with funds provided by the widow of the Seventh Earl of Bridgewater.
Exterior Description
The body of the church is built of brick, the west front faced with Grinshill stone in finely cut ashlar blocks. The tower is similarly faced. The roofs are slated except for the tower which is leaded.
The only part of the church visible from the street is the west front (the orientation is reversed, but liturgical terminology is used here), and this is treated as a set piece in severe Greek Revival taste. There are five bays, and the classical rules are not carefully observed. The central bay is wider than the others and has the door set between two tall unfluted Ionic columns in antis. Above is a carved stone tablet with the date of erection. A straight entablature is broken by a panel carved with the arms of the Bridgewater family.
The middle bay is attached to the two flanking bays by the pediment which conceals the gable of the nave. This is interrupted by the square base of the tower which has a stone clock face carved on the west face and roundels with louvres on the side faces. This would imply that the clock chamber also holds the bell. The tower itself is square with canted corners, the roof supported on twelve severe pilasters. The roof is low pitched and was formerly improved by a cross above it. The outer bays of the west front are set further back, each bay being marked by a thin pilaster strip. The four flanking bays have tall windows filled with clear glass in rectilinear glazing bars. The roofs of the outer bays run at right angles to the ridge of the nave roof and terminate on small pediments.
Interior
Interior Description
Inside the church, there is a narrow passage crossed by tall round arches which runs the length of the west front. The twin projections are seen to perform different functions, that on the left containing the stair to the gallery while that on the right has a small room on each floor. The gallery is very narrow, being only over the passage on the ground floor. The door which opens into the nave is set in the east walk of the tower, and the lower part of the tower interrupts the gallay in an awkward way.
The floor is of stone except for the wooden platforms upon which the pews stood, and the chancel is raised above the level of the nave by two steps. The ceiling is plastered, divided into rectangular bays by transverse and longitudinal beams. Each of the central sections has a floral plaster boss. The chancel arch is in the form of two attached pilasters with anthemion capitals supportinga straight entablature decorated with six laurel wreaths. The east window is of Venetian pattern.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
The font is of stone and circular
Pulpit
The pulpit is of oak, classical with attached Doric pilasters at the corners.
Stall
A pair of choirstalls with clergy desks in the same style as the pulpit.
Organ (object)
The organ is a two manual instrument by Conacher of Huddersfield with ten speaking stops.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 543 412
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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