Diameter: 14" Bell 1 of 1
Dove Bell ID: 50228 Tower ID: 17813 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Accrington: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: SD 766 285
This modest stone church was designed in a Tudor Arts-and-Crafts style shortly prior to the First World War, though it was never completed to its intended design. Its origins, as with many urban church in Lancashire, lie in population growth driven by the textile industry. St Paul's is an aisled, 5-bay nave, with a shallow chancel and flanking vestries, constructed of coursed sandstone slabs and stone dressings.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay aisled nave and shallow chancel, flanking vestries.
Dimensions:
Nave estimated to be c 24m x 8m (78ft x 26ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Accrington has Saxon origins, and is unusual in that it was still held at the time of the Domesday Book (1086) by a Saxon Thegn, Leowine. There was a grange here of Kirkstall Abbey till the Reformation. The settlement developed slowly through the post-medieval period, the church built in 1911-13 as Accrington rapidly expanded for the textile industry, as with most Lancashire towns; after World War I the population began to decline.
The architect of the church was Henry Ross of Accrington who was prolific in the area, for example Accrington St Peter and Accrington St Mary Magdalene. This church is quite different from the former but similar to the latter, with obvious strong Arts-and-Crafts influences and leaning heavily towards Austin & Paley’s style. Ross’s design as shown in the plan below is a much pared down version of an earlier design with transepts and chancel for which he prepared sketches; the pencilled in additions were never realised, and the east end rudimentarily finished off.
Exterior Description
The church is basically a long aisled block under a single roof. The fenestration is of square-headed windows of three pointed lights in the nave and 2-lights in the clearstorey. There are symmetrically placed doorways in the second bay from the west. The west window is a large pointed Perpendicular 4-light with a transom to the middle lights and double-cusping, roof light above and plain cross finial, stone copings. The west aisle walls are blind.
There is a square-headed 4-light in the buttressed vestry which is a gabled continuation of the north aisle, protruding slightly beyond the chancel and with half a gable end terminating awkwardly in a buttress. The east elevation is rendered but this fails to disguise the fact that it is a mess. There is a simple small square 2-light window inserted high in the wall; a chimney stack continues awkwardly past it into the gable, rising from a low lean-to projection which houses the shallow chancel, with steps to the boiler room under, and a doorway and square-headed 2-light to the south vestry adjacent.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century 5 bay aisled
Chancel
20th century shallow
Vestry
20th century flanking
Building Materials
Sandstone
20th century coursed slabs
Stone
20th century dressings
Slate
20th century roof exterior
Timber
20th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside through the peculiar low arch-headed doorway with its square flanking pilasters on the south side, however, one is taken aback by the quality of the space, and here the Austin & Paley church of St John at nearby Great Harwood comes strongly to mind. The view looking east is abruptly terminated by the blank east end with a short sanctuary contained within a low broad arch, the wall above painted cream, the sanctuary yellow. The chancel takes up the eastern bay of the nave, with plain choir stalls. The organ is to the south of this, the Lady chapel takes up the next aisle bay west.
One therefore has to walk east and look west to get an idea of what was intended. The nave is fully pewed with simple benches. The arcades are carried on plain pointed arches with a hollow chamfer which die into the walls, carried on octagonal piers with Perpendicular moulded capitals, all exposed stone. The open timber roof is one of the church’s best features, arch-braced and with tie-beams and queen posts. The floors have red carpets in the nave and chancel, stone flags in the aisles.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Light stained modern table. Oak chest table in the Lady chapel with blind tracery, 1921, of a piece with the reredos.
Reredos
20th century Cross above chancel arch, simple, wooden, modern. Oak reredos to the Lady chapel is a World War I memorial, panelled, tracery.
Pulpit
20th century The pulpit is of light oak, octagonal, plain, 1936.
Lectern
20th century Oak eagle.
Font (component)
20th century Octagonal Perpendicular font with shields in the faces, 1913. Plain oak cover.
Plaque (component)
20th century Several brass plaques in memory of members of the congregation, the rest war memorials: Roll of Honour, World War I. Brass plaques in memory of Pte Walter Lythe, killed in action in France 1917, E Whittaker killed in action in France 1917, Richard Staves of the Military Police 8th Lancashire Regt killed in action in France 1916.
Organ (component)
20th century Two manual pipe organ by J Driver & Co of Burnley, plain neo-Classical case with pediments. Refurbished 1999.
Rail
20th century Plain wood. Mahogany rails to Lady chapel.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 766 285
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
Showing 10 entries of 10 View All
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.