St Cuthbert's Church, Halsall
Encyclopedia
St Cuthbert's Church is an Anglican
church in Halsall
, a village in Lancashire
, England. It is an active parish church
in the Diocese of Liverpool
and the archdeaconry of Warrington. The oldest parts of the church date from the 14th century and there have been several alteratons and additions. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.
, Downholland
, Melling
and Maghull
. The oldest part of the building—the chancel
—dates from the early 14th century.
St Cuthbert's underwent restoration
by Lancaster architecture firm Paley and Austin in 1873, and again in 1886. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
on 23 September 1950. The Grade I designation—the highest of the three grades—is for buildings "of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important".
An active church in the Church of England
, St Cuthbert's is part of the diocese of Liverpool
, which is in the Province of York
. It is in the archdeaconry of Warrington and the Deanery
of Ormskirk.
and has stone slate roofs. Its plan consists of a nave with a tower to the west, north and south aisle
s, a south porch
, a chancel
to the east and a vestry
north of the chancel. In the south-west corner, between the tower and south aisle, there is a room that was originally built as a grammar school.
The tower is 126 feet (38.4 m) tall and has three stages. The lower stage is square with corner buttress
es. There is a flat-headed, two-light west window with tracery
. The second stage is octagonal, with flat-headed, two-light belfry
louvres
. It is topped with a stone spire
that has lucarne
s (windows). Between the belfry stage and the spire, there is an octagonal parapet
with four gargoyle
s.
The roof of the nave has a flat parapet. The former grammar school that projects south of the building, has a crenellated
parapet and its roof is gable
d. Above the doorway are the Halsall family arms and an inscription that reads "E. H. 1593". The grammar school has two-light, pointed windows.
The windows of the aisles have flat heads and Perpendicular style tracery. The east window in the chancel has five lights with tracery.
s of four bay
s that have octagonal pier
s and pointed arches with wave moulding
. There is a piscina
(basin) in the south wall of the south aisle, and another in the north aisle.
The chancel measures 47 feet (14.3 m) by 20 in 6 in (6.25 m). There are triple-sedilia
(priest's seats) and a piscina, all in the Decorated style. The three seats and piscina date from the 14th century and all have arches with cinquefoils. There is a reredos
from 1886, painted by Shrigley and Hunt
. Stained glass
in the church includes work by Harry Harvey and Hardman & Co.
in the churchyard, dating from 1725. Its base has two square steps and there is a baluster
stem; the gnomon
is probably modern. The sundial has been given a Grade II designation by English Heritage. There is also an octagonal sandstone baptismal font
in the churchyard from the 19th century. The font has also received a Grade II listing.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Halsall
Halsall
Halsall is a village and civil parish in West Lancashire, England, located close to Ormskirk on the A5147 and Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The parish has a population of 1,921 and covers an area of 28.31 square kilometres...
, a village in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. It is an active parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
in the Diocese of Liverpool
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
The Diocese of Liverpool is a Church of England diocese based in Liverpool, covering Merseyside north of the River Mersey along with West Lancashire, Wigan in Greater Manchester, Warrington and Widnes in Cheshire...
and the archdeaconry of Warrington. The oldest parts of the church date from the 14th century and there have been several alteratons and additions. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.
History and administration
The ecclesiastical parish of Halsall originally included the townships of Halsall, LydiateLydiate
-Future:In 2009 planning permission was sought to be a marina on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal by Bells Lane.-Notable residents:*Ian Callaghan, former professional footballer, owned an insurance agency near the Weld Blundell....
, Downholland
Downholland
Downholland is a civil parish in Lancashire, England on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. The area contains several villages including Haskayne, Barton and Downholland Cross, and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the A5147....
, Melling
Melling, Merseyside
Melling is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 2,810....
and Maghull
Maghull
Maghull is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. The town is located eight miles north of the City of Liverpool and south of Ormskirk in West Lancashire. The area of Moss Side also contains HM Prison Kennet and Ashworth Hospital. Maghull had a...
. The oldest part of the building—the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
—dates from the early 14th century.
St Cuthbert's underwent restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
by Lancaster architecture firm Paley and Austin in 1873, and again in 1886. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
on 23 September 1950. The Grade I designation—the highest of the three grades—is for buildings "of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important".
An active church in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, St Cuthbert's is part of the diocese of Liverpool
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
The Diocese of Liverpool is a Church of England diocese based in Liverpool, covering Merseyside north of the River Mersey along with West Lancashire, Wigan in Greater Manchester, Warrington and Widnes in Cheshire...
, which is in the Province of York
Province of York
The Province of York is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England, and consists of 14 dioceses which cover the northern third of England and the Isle of Man. York was elevated to an Archbishopric in 735 AD: Ecgbert of York was the first archbishop...
. It is in the archdeaconry of Warrington and the Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
of Ormskirk.
Exterior
St Cuthbert's is constructed of squared sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and has stone slate roofs. Its plan consists of a nave with a tower to the west, north and south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s, a south porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
, a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
to the east and a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
north of the chancel. In the south-west corner, between the tower and south aisle, there is a room that was originally built as a grammar school.
The tower is 126 feet (38.4 m) tall and has three stages. The lower stage is square with corner buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es. There is a flat-headed, two-light west window with tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
. The second stage is octagonal, with flat-headed, two-light belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
louvres
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
. It is topped with a stone spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
that has lucarne
Lucarne
A lucarne is a small dormer window that is built on a spire or roof during the Gothic and Romanesque time period....
s (windows). Between the belfry stage and the spire, there is an octagonal parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
with four gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s.
The roof of the nave has a flat parapet. The former grammar school that projects south of the building, has a crenellated
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
parapet and its roof is gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d. Above the doorway are the Halsall family arms and an inscription that reads "E. H. 1593". The grammar school has two-light, pointed windows.
The windows of the aisles have flat heads and Perpendicular style tracery. The east window in the chancel has five lights with tracery.
Interior and fittings
The nave is separated from the tower by a pointed arch. Between the nave and aisles there are arcadeArcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
s of four bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
s that have octagonal pier
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
s and pointed arches with wave moulding
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
. There is a piscina
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
(basin) in the south wall of the south aisle, and another in the north aisle.
The chancel measures 47 feet (14.3 m) by 20 in 6 in (6.25 m). There are triple-sedilia
Sedilia
Sedilia , in ecclesiastical architecture, is the term used to describe stone seats, usually to be found on the south side of an altar, often in the chancel, for the use of the officiating priests...
(priest's seats) and a piscina, all in the Decorated style. The three seats and piscina date from the 14th century and all have arches with cinquefoils. There is a reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
from 1886, painted by Shrigley and Hunt
Shrigley and Hunt
Shrigley and Hunt was the name of an English firm which produced stained glass windows and art tiles.The business began in the 1750s when Shrigley's was a painting, carving and gilding firm in Lancaster, Lancashire....
. Stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
in the church includes work by Harry Harvey and Hardman & Co.
Hardman & Co.
Hardman & Co., otherwise John Hardman Trading Co., Ltd., founded 1838, began manufacturing stained glass in 1844 and became one of the world's leading manufacturers of stained glass and ecclesiastical fittings...
Churchyard
In the churchyard, there are some grave slabs from the Middle Ages that were originally inside the church. There is a sandstone sundialSundial
A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
in the churchyard, dating from 1725. Its base has two square steps and there is a baluster
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
stem; the gnomon
Gnomon
The gnomon is the part of a sundial that casts the shadow. Gnomon is an ancient Greek word meaning "indicator", "one who discerns," or "that which reveals."It has come to be used for a variety of purposes in mathematics and other fields....
is probably modern. The sundial has been given a Grade II designation by English Heritage. There is also an octagonal sandstone baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
in the churchyard from the 19th century. The font has also received a Grade II listing.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin