Kirkdale: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 346 942
The west front is the most interesting feature of the church, and evidently the only part which would have been seen when the area was fully built up. The design is asymmetrical with a square tower carrying the small spire on the north side of the west door.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Five-bay nave with projections to north and south at the west end containing the stairs to the galleries in the nave. North-west bell-tower with spirical top. Chancel with vestries on north and south.
Exterior Description
The west front is the most interesting feature of the church, and evidently the only part which would have been seen when the area was fully built up. The design is asymmetricall with a square tower carrying the small spire on the north side of the west door. The front of the church is faced with ashlar and rock-cut masonry, probably covering brick structure. The tower stands on a battered plinth which is ashlar with minimum rustication, and above this the tower is square with clasping buttresses so slender as to be almost unnoticeable. By means of broaches, the tower becomes octagonal, at which point there is a band of quatrefoils and then the arcaded belfry stage. This supports the spirelet which has tiny lucarnes half-way up. The effect is rather attenuated and none of the features is strong enough for the impact to be memorable. The west front of the nave has little of interest: the door is under a slightly projecting porch on stocky pillars, and the large window has unimaginative geometricaltracery of quatrefoils above the four lights. The cramped impression of the whole front of the church is the result of the very steep shoulders used on the buttresses which is echoed in the stone pent roof above the west door. The projections which house the stairs to the galleries have each a door in the outer walls, various simple lancet windows and hipped roofs. The side walls of the nave are only visible as a result of demolition nearby, and are built of undisguised brick. Five two-light windows are divided by each other by buttresses. The east wall is also of brick, with stone coping on the gables and a dripstone round the east window.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior has galleries which are a feature not really in keeping with the mid-nineteenth-century spirit of the exterior. But for the galleries the nave would be little more than a brick box, plastered within, but they are in fact integral to the structure of the chuch, playing an important part in supporting the roof. The pillars are of wood, and have odd strained Corinthian capitals. The gallery at the west end is separate from those along the lateral walls and projects from an arch which suggests a centrally placed west tower.
The chancel arch has painted over it the text 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved'. The width of the nave is such that to draw the eye towards the Communion Table without too abrupt a change, the chancel arch has smaller arches each side which open into triangular lobbies communicating with the chancel also. From these, doors open into the vestries each side. It is an unusual feature, and one which gives a feeling of more spaciousness than really exists. There are also quatrefoil windows above the vestry doors which help to lighten an otherwise dark part of the church.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 346 942
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
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