Farnworth: St Peter
Overview
Grid reference: SD 739 52
In the southeast corner of Farnworth on a quiet road just off Long Causeway, St Peter’s church is tucked away in a residential area next to the primary school of the same name. Works started on the church in 1885 and it was consecrated in 1886. The architect for the church was Richard Knill Freeman (1838 – 1904) who worked primarily in Manchester and Lancashire and designed a number of other buildings in Farnworth. St Peter’s is a long tall rectangular building with one continuous pitched roof for the nave and chancel.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave (nine ¼ bays) and chancel in one, narrow aisles, west end division, south porch and south east stair turret.
Dimensions:
The nave and chancel together are approximately 46m (150ft) by 15m (50ft) (including aisles).
Description of Archaeology and History
In 1880 the need for a church and school was identified and a temporary building erected and used. Works started on the church in 1885 and it was consecrated in 1886. The architect for the church was Richard Knill Freeman (1838 – 1904) who worked primarily in Manchester and Lancashire and designed a number of other buildings in Farnworth.
Exterior Description
St Peter’s is a long tall rectangular building with one continuous pitched roof for the nave and chancel. On the north elevation all nine bays have paired tall lancets set within a relieving arch demarcated in brick and underlined with a string course. Each bay is divided with a tall slender narrow buttress with a single weathering at height. There is a partial tenth bay at the east end and this is blind and forms an overwide buttress. There is a doorway in the second bay from the west.
The south elevation is the show side of the building and has a very shallow porch in the second bay from the west which has a slight shouldered gable surmounted by a cross and an arched doorway. The seven bays from west to east have detailing and fenestration as the north side except for above the porch where the window is the same style as all other bays but with shortened lancets and a higher stringcourse.
Between the eighth and ninth bays on the south side there is a stair turret. The turret has five faces (as though octagonal in plan) and rises to a small pyramidal roof which then blends into a rectangular projection with louvred opening. Below the pyramidal roof there are three paired lights in a row across the three central faces; a further pair is set lower in the central face. The turret is finished with a hipped roof with broached corners set at right angles to the nave. There is a small doorway to the east of the turret.
The east elevation is sheer and imposing. Buttresses at the north and south with two highly set weatherings join the roof line with gablets creating a shouldered effect. Four undercroft windows are just visible and finish level with the road. The main window is a relieving arch containing five irregularly stepped lancets. The outer lancets are divided by thin decorative pilasters in the same form as the buttresses. A central buttress rises to the bottom of the central lancet with a gablet over and the weathering in line with a string course.
The west elevation has a stepped finish to the gable and two tall paired lancets under thin relieving arches similar to the openings in the nave and underlined with a string course. A tall buttress is positioned centrally between the two arches and there are two shorter buttresses positioned on either side. Four shorter lights are positioned directly beneath each lancet at a lower level.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
In the west window there are four short lancets (n-s):
- St Nicholas. A gift from the mothers, In memoriam.
- St Michael. In proud memory of those who served and in serving died. 1939-1945.
- St Cecilia. In loving memory of Thomas and Ethel Stones also their son Thomas Geoffrey choirboy of this church.
- Virgin and Child. In memoriam Ethel Agnes Mary. Elder daughter of the Rev T Woodhouse Vicar of St Peter’s who entered into rest on the feast of St Martin. Aged 26 RIP 1893.
Building Materials
Brick
Slate
Roof tiles natural blue slate, with green slate patterning
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is wide and spacious. The aisles employ a characteristic Freeman style and are really only narrow walkways separated from the outer walls by two-storey small strainer arches which create narrow ambulations and short tunnel cross vaults. The arcades reach to the full height of the nave without capitals and are sharply pointed.
The western bay has a balcony of sorts created by a three bay baptistery with wide segmental arches. The font was relocated to a central position in the nave in 1974 and the arches glazed to create an enclosed chapel space.
A wooden screen separates the next two bays from the nave and here the pews have been removed to create an open space which can be used flexibly. The next four bays constitute the nave proper and here there are long pew benches spanning the space.
The chancel occupies the next two bays and is raised on seven steps and marked with a sturdy stone wall which replaced the rood screen in 1955. The wall is shaped to include the large contemporary octagonal pulpit. Wooden screens separate the space from the ambulatory aisles and give a degree of intimacy in contrast to the nave. The organ is positioned on the south side of the chancel in the ninth bay. The north aisle has access to the stair turret and steps down to the undercroft below the chancel.
The sanctuary occupies the tenth bay which appears almost as an afterthought and is marked by slender arches (perhaps a third the width of other bays) which are also lower in height.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1885
A large oak altar with a hollow frame and pierced decorative borders to front panels.
Reredos
1885
A large wooden reredos with decorative vine banding all around and three painted panels depicting the crucifixion. Wooden panelling continues around the sanctuary.
Pulpit
1955
Octagonal stone screen, 1955; integral with the stone chancel screen.
Lectern
1955
Book rest built on top of stone chancel screen.
Font (object)
1885
Overlarge circular bowl on four clustered column with circular plinth.
Rail
1885
Simple wooden rail with paired wooden supports.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 739 52
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
Quinquennial Inspections
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