Bell 1 of 1
Dove Bell ID: 54553 Tower ID: 20419 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Great Marsden: St John the Evangelist
Overview
Grid reference: SD 870 378
Although this church seems not to have received a grant from the Commissioners for Building New Churches, it belongs in style and plan entirely to the type of building sponsored by that body. Originally it was a very simple building - a plain rectangular preaching house with bays divided by tall buttresses, tall Y- traceried windows with hoods having returned ends in each bay, and single thin lancets at the west end flanking the tower.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower with short spire; aisleless nave of five bays with shallow transepts opening from the easternmost bay; chancel with south organ chamber and north vestry.
Description of Archaeology and History
The steeple and nave were built in 1846-8. The transepts and chancel were added in 1896; no architect's name is known at present for either part of the building.
Exterior Description
Although this church seems not to have received a grant from the Commissioners for Building New Churches, it belongs in style and plan entirely to the type of building sponsored by that body. Originally it was a very simple building - a plain rectangular preaching house with bays divided by tall buttresses, tall Y- traceried windows with hoods having returned ends in each bay, and single thin lancets at the west end flanking the tower.
The tower is rather small for the scale of the church, and has the principal doorway on the west, with three wide continuous chamfers, and a window above which is a shorter version of those in the nave side walls. At the angles are very tall slender set - back buttresses with only one intermediate weathering. These die just below the point above the nave roof where the tower is set back. The belfry stage has a Y - traceried louvred opening in each face under gablets which also enclose recessed circles. At the angles are four rather crude pinnacles, and rising between these is a short spire with a foliate finial.
It is not clear whether there was originally a chancel recess, but this is likely. The east end of the church was elaborated about half a century after its construction by the addition of transepts, chancel , organ chamber and vestry to suit the liturgical needs of the time (although the transepts are occupied only by more seats, not chapels). As usual, these parts are in a more "correct" Gothic style than the original church. The transepts are shallow and have windows consisting of groups of three lancets under hoods with foliate stops in the north and south walls.
The eastern elevation of the church has three gables, all with windows in the Decorated style. The larger chancel gable has a window of five lights with tracery of three trefoils in a circle flanked by quatrefoils in circles. The windows of the flanking gables , housing the vestry to the north and the organ chamber to the south, have three - light windows which elaborate slightly on those of the transepts by having cusped principal lights. The side walls of these chambers each have three lancets, and the vestry also has an external doorway.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1897
The east window depicts The Ascension, by Seward and Company of Lancaster
Stained Glass
c.1920
North transept north: St. Oswald of Northumbria instructing his troops to pray before the Cross flanked by a soldier praying at the grave of a comrade and a wounded sailor, both these in First World War dress; in the three predella panels is a scene of mediaeval knights burying a comrade
Stained Glass
c.1918
South transept south: Christ and the Children
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is approached through a lobby in the base of the tower from which stone stairs rise north and south to serve the west gallery. The arches above the stairs meet the side walls awkwardly. The nave is a simple rectangular space without aisles, with plastered walls and pews covering every available inch of floorspace so that the side alleys are extremely narrow. The alleys are paved with patterned tiles. Another awkwardness is seen in the junction of the west wall above the gallery with the westernmost windows of the nave. The gallery is carried on thin cast. iron pillars and has a front with blind cusped ogee-headed panels. The roof has simplified hammerbeams.
The chancel floor projects into the eastern part of the nave and is raised three steps above the level of the nave. The arch has a continuous outer moulding and an inner moulding set on corbels carved as angels. There is a further step at the rails. The floor is paved with patterned tiles. On the north is a pointed doorway with foliate stops leading to the vestry and on the south an arch opens to the organ chamber. The boarded roof is of three bays with stylised leaves carved on the corbels.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
c.1896
The altar is of oak with the sacred monogram IHS, very large, in the roundel in the middle of the three front panels.
Reredos
c.1896
The reredos consists of Gothic panelling surmounted by open arcading; the three middle panels have mosaic decoration and cross flanked by the chalice and serpent and eagle of St. John all against gold grounds.
Pulpit
c.1896
The pulpit is of oak, five sides of an octagon with simple traceried panels and flat buttresses.
Lectern
c.1896
Brass eagle
Font (object)
c.1896
The font is a small grey stone octagon standing in the south transept
Organ (object)
c.1900
The organ is by Laycock and Bannister of Keighley
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 870 378
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.
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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