Bolton-le-Moors: St Matthew w St Barnabas
Overview
Grid reference: SD 711 103
Built 1970-2 as a parish hall. Sanctuary added 1981-2 when original church of St Matthew, to this building’s west was demolished.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
North porch, meeting rooms, WCs, kitchen and store rooms at west end, main area/nave with west gallery. Apsidal east sanctuary with vestry to south side.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 10m (33ft) long x 12m (39ft) wide, chancel 4m (13ft)
Description of Archaeology and History
The original church of St Matthew, built 1874-6, was designed by Thomas Denville Barry of Liverpool. It was a brick church with five-bay aisled nave with clerestory, transepts and a north tower and south porch. The chancel had a north organ chamber and south chapel, with an octagonal vestry in the north-east corner. The tower and spire formed a local landmark. The spire was reduced in 1947 following concerns for its stability, and was removed in full in 1955.
A new hall was built c.1970 and when St Matthew’s closed in 1983 (wet rot and damp), worship relocated to the hall and a sanctuary was added. It was hoped that the vestry could be preserved but St Matthew’s was demolished in 1988.
St Matthew’s is situated close to St Thomas’s and St Paul’s, both within its group. St Paul’s was the only church in the Halliwell district until 1875. Another nearby church was St Barnabas, south of St Matthew’s, which was built 1911-13, designed by F R Freeman of Bolton and closed in 1975 when the parish joined with St Matthew’s. It is now a temple-cum-community centre for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
The archaeological potential of the site is low. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot.
Exterior Description
It is a low dark brick building with a windowless apsidal east end. Due to the change in ground level the east elevations are taller. Windows in the north, south and west walls are placed within vertical panels with white painted boards above and below them, the clear glass is protected by metal grids. The church has a shallow-pitched tile roof with over-hanging eaves. The roof over the west end is slightly lower. There is a cross over the chancel arch. A ramp with a metal handrail leads up to the main entrance in the north-west corner. Two more doors on the south side have ramps and access different levels within the church. The doors are all painted blue.
Building Fabric and Features
Porch
20th century north
Kitchen
20th century with WCs and store rooms at west end
Nave
20th century with west gallery
Sanctuary
20th century apsidal east sanctuary
Vestry
20th century south side
Building Materials
Brick
20th century blue brick plinth
Clay
20th century brown clay brick walls
Pantile
20th century clay pantile roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The church is entered through glazed doors in the north-west corner which opens into a carpeted entry hall. To the west are two WCs with a meeting room and kitchen beyond. They have inserted ceiling panels. To the east is the main open space used for worship entered through double doors within a glazed surround. The area is four steps lower than the narrow platform on which the room is entered. This provides access between the rooms at the west end and is an area where the wooden chairs are stored. There are three sets of steps, one has a stair-lift. The platform and stairs are carpeted and the platform has a wood strip front.
The main space is floored in strips of wood. Three long windows in the north and south walls illuminate the space. The ceiling is of pine strips with attached strip lights and recessed spotlights. The walls are plastered and painted white. The floor space is kept clear. There are three narrow strips of glazing to the north side of the plain chancel arch, opening into the sanctuary.
The sanctuary can be separated by a folding wood partition. There is no change in floor level. The sanctuary walls are of exposed brick and the floor is carpeted. The wood ceiling is lower and has three rectangular wood boxes projecting down from the main level – perhaps originally light shafts. There is a step up around the apsidal outer walls and a continuous bench follows.
A vestry projects from the south-east corner. A vestibule in the angle between the sanctuary and the south-east corner of the worship area has an external door and access to sanctuary, vestry and worship space.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century oak table with seven trefoil-headed blind tracery panels and inscription around bottom edge.
Lectern
20th century simple modern pine or beech - pair with font
Font (component)
20th century simple modern pine or beech with large copper bowl
Organ (component)
20th century modern electric c 1981
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 711 103
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
Sources
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