Lancashire

Churches

A  church with both tower and spire - one of only three examples in England.

The earliest record of a church at Ormskirk dates from 1189, and is noted in documents relating to the foundation of nearby Burscough Priory. In the chancel of the present St Peter & St Paul is a Late Norman window that may well date from that building. The remainder of the fabric dates from the C12 through to the present day, with extensive restorations having taken place.

However, the first thing that strikes a visitor to the church today is the sight of a tower and a spire - both ancient - standing side by side. This feature is seen on only two other parish churches in England - St Mary, Purton, and St Andrew, Wanborough, both in Wiltshire. A legend says that the two daughters of Orm could not agree whether the church should have a tower or a spire, and so they had both built. The truth, however, is that the spire was already standing when four bells were brought from Burscough Priory after the Dissolution in 1536. But, it was considered too insubstantial to hold them, and so a strong tower was built.

The spire sits on an octagonal bell stage, and this, via broaches, rests on a square tower. It was probably begun in c.1430. However, it shares many features of the spires of nearby Aughton and Halsall, and may be C14. It houses a single bell given by the Earl of Derby in 1521, but dated 1716 (when it was recast). The large C16 west tower is seventy feet square. It has three-light bell openings in pairs, and a west door and window that are dwarfed by the tower's overall bulk.

The exterior of the church mainly represents the work of the restoration by Paley & Austin in 1877-1891. They replaced the round headed Georgian windows of west end of the nave with Perpendicular windows, and continued this style round the building. Their brief was to bring unity back to a church that had been repeatedly renovated. It is probable, however, that the windows of the Derby Chapel in the south-eat corner retain the style, and possibly some of the materials of the original windows.

Inside the building Paley and Austin removed galleries and replaced the nave arcades. Photographs show these to have been of the oddest design - the top half classical columns, with chamfered blocks below. The new arcades are the architects' favoured design with no capitals. The chancel was altered less, and the original arcades with octagonal piers, of c.1270, are retained.

Despite extensive renovation the church retains many interesting features. The Derby Chapel contains C15 and C16 effigies. One of these is Margaret Beaufort (d.1509), mother of King Henry VII. The adjoining Scarisbrick Chapel has a large wall brass possibly commemorating Sir Henry de Scarisbrick (d.1420). Henry fought at Agincourt and was knighted in the field.

In the north aisle is the Mosoke brass of 1661. The rhyme on the brass claims that the family grave in the aisle dates back to 1276.

"My ancestors have been interred heare 385 yeares,

This by aunchient evidence to mee appeares,

Which that all maye knowe and none do offer wrong,

It is tenne ffotte broade and 4 yeardes and a helfe longe."

A tenor bell of 25cwt is displayed in the north aisle. It came from Burscough Priory (see above), and was cast in 1497, and recast in 1576 and 1714. It retains the original inscriptions which indicate it was the gift of James Scarisbrickk of Burscough who died between 1494 and 1501.

The organ, interestingly, includes pipes from an earlier instrument of 1731. This had been in the west gallery. The font (see photograph) is typical of its date.

An unusual item found in the south porch is the dog whipper's bench. It has a drawer for a whip, gloves and tongs. These were used to separate dogs, which, having followed their owners into church, sometimes began fighting!

In the churchyard is a sundial (C18) which formerly stood near the porch. 

The tower and spire

The spire was begun in c.1430. The massive, square tower was completed in the 1570s.

View from the south east

The north wall has been rebuilt several times, and the arcades are by Paley & Austin (1890s).

Norman window

The Late Norman window was uncovered and partially restored in 1877.

Font (1661)

The font was a gift of the Countess of Derby, in thanks for the restoration of Charles II.

West tower (north) window

This glass of 1892 by Henry Holiday shows obvious Pre-Raphaelite influences.

West tower window

The stained glass of 1880 by Henry Holiday, shows Christ and his disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

Memorial tablet

Moorcroft was veterinary surgeon for the British East India Company.

Photographs and text © Tony Boughen