Lancashire

Churches

Georgian and Victorian additions to a medieval building

The present church of St Peter's, Burnley, located in a leafy churchyard in a loop of the River Don, is the successor of a building that must have existed before 1122. Hugh de Laval's charter of that year mentions the gift to Pontefract Priory of a church at Burnley.

The oldest part of the building we see today is the lower section of the west tower. This is Late Perpendicular in style, and mainly dates from a rebuilding of 1533. The west door with chamfered arch uninterrupted by capitals (though with stylised flowers inset at the top), and the three light window above it, are familiar from churches throughout the county. Also seen elsewhere are coats of arms on the tower e.g. St Michael's-on-Wyre, or Broughton. At St Peter's an animal appears too, (see also Winwick) next to a hoodmould with an arch below. At the rebuilding a shield was placed below this feature. It has what appear to be blacksmiths' tools, horseshoes, and an inscription on a chevron. It has been suggested that the tools are the instruments of the passion? If so, where is the scourge? Apparently the same shield featured on the font of 1532 which was destroyed in a fire of 1991.

The rebuilding of 1533 left the south aisle in its original state, but the north aisle and nave were recast. The church would then have had the characteristic low north country profile. However, in the C18 the growing population required more space, and in 1737 a small west gallery was added. In 1789 major rebuilding took place. The exterior walls were heightened, the nave arcades raised, and a south gallery was built. The small, but elegant north door with a simple ogee arch was added at this time. The increasing population of Burnley was one reason for the enlargement, but also of significance, perhaps, was the establishment of the first Methodist Chapel at Keighley Green in 1787. The double level windows that were placed in the nave walls though Georgian in age, clearly look back at Late Perpendicular models through their uncusped arched lights.

Further building took place in 1802 when the tower was raised by 30 feet. This was not just for aesthetic reasons. The original single 19cwts bell had been replaced in 1702 by a peal of four York bells. Now these were replaced by an eight bell peal weighing more than 72cwts! In the same year the last gallery was built over the north aisle.

Major work was carried out again in the 1850s when the arcades were again changed, and the roof reconstructed. The elaborate chancel roof - a proliferation of hammerbeams, king posts, struts, arches and braces, elaborately painted in red, green, cream and gold catches the visitor's eye immediately. It is a tour-de force. Work on the sanctuary was done in 1872, and the south porch added in 1889. The latter is a compositionally sound addition in the Perpendicular style, with an openwork parapet carried round three sides and crocketed corner pinnacles. The final major work is less of an asset. In 1903 a plain clergy vestry was added to the south-east corner. Its monumental dullness adds nothing to the church, and takes away much from the overall composition.

The church has interesting Kempe glass, and two good windows by Abbott & Co of Lancaster (across). A number of the church memorials are to the Townley family including one to Charles ( antiquarian and collector of the Townley marbles, now in the British Museum) by Nollekens of 1805. The 1881 memorial by Saul to the wife of Robert Townley-Parker is especially noteworthy (across). Also of interest is the memorial, with bust, to General Scarlett (d. 1871). He is remembered as the man who led the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava during the Crimean War. Nearby is a stone coffin lid with a foliate cross, probably of the C14.

On the south wall of the church is an ogee headed tablet with a sundial "constructed by Mr Whyman of Gawthorp in the year 1791." Its fade inscription in the centre circle mentions the Greenwich Observatory and records latitude and longitude.

Porch, nave and tower

All are of different dates. The double nave windows are designed light galleries.

Nave and chancel

The tall, late Georgian octagonal columns formerly helped to support galleries.

Abbott glass (detail)

The male figure carries the cross of St George in this glass which is probably from the 1970s.

Memorial to Mrs Townley 1874)

An unusual design of a large marble angel in a brass surround inscribed with a dedication.

Sundial (1791)

A popular addition by Georgian restorers, the ogee top echoes that of the north door of the same date.

An assemblage of carvings

The animal and hoodmould with arch go together. The shield was placed below later.

Photographs and text © Tony Boughen