Nominal: 717.5 Hz Weight: 1568 lbs Diameter: 44" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Mellours (generic)
Dove Bell ID: 826 Tower ID: 16292 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bolton-le-Sands: Holy Trinity
Diocese of Blackburn
Church, 603298
http://bolton-le-sands.org.uk/This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SD 483 677
The Church and graveyard are located in the southern area of the village of Bolton le Sands, on the north side of Main Road, in a prominent, slightly elevated position. The Church is positioned at the centre of an enclosed graveyard, enclosed by stone walls on all sides. There are spectacular views of the surrounding area and of Morecambe Bay from the Tower and the Church graveyards. The closed graveyards around and next to the Church contain a number of splendid, mature trees that really complement the setting of the church. The graveyard on the opposite side of Main Road is a more recent extension, has an open aspect and offers glorious views of Morecambe Bay. The current graveyard is situated on the north side of Main Road next to the canal and offers a more contemplative setting. The closed graveyards contain a number of monuments, including some nineteenth century table tombs, which are generally in good condition. The graveyards are surrounded by stone walls with coping stones and are an attractive feature. To the south of the church by the wall is a large stone cross memorial. A number of nearby buildings relate to and complement the Church. The vicarage is opposite to the Church and there is a row of cottages on the north side behind the Church. The old school house is situated across the road from the Church near the junction of Main Road and The Nook. This is now a private residence. The Old Boys Grammar School lies just around the corner on St Michaels Lane. This is now used for meetings and small functions. The Church is of pre-Norman origin. There is evidence of Anglo-Saxon use on the site based on the survival of sculpture from that period. The remains of what is thought to be a six foot high preaching stone cross is kept in the tower area.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Visitor toilets available
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 501 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Anglo-Saxon. Stone cross
Exterior Description
Records show that the Church certainly existed on this site in 1094. There is evidence of earlier Anglo-Saxon use of the site based on the survival of sculptured stone remains. The Tower in the west and the arches that stand in the north side of the building, date from the 15th century and are all that remains of the mediaeval church. A great deal of rebuilding and restoration occurred in the 19th century. The Nave was rebuilt in 1813 and in 1827 a wide North Transept was added and the third pier from the west of the Nave was removed and the two arches made into one. In 1836, the door of the south porch was walled up and the door in the tower made into the main entrance. In 1846 the east wall was taken down and a new Chancel built. The chancel was built in an Early English style suggesting that Paley, the architect, might have been influenced by the Gothic Revival Movement. In 1847 work began on removing the flat ceiling in the Nave and replacing it with a hammer-beam roof. In 1880 the North transept was pulled down and the North Aisle widened, the gallery was removed and the third pier of the arcade restored along with the two former arches. A Vestry (now a kitchen and toilet area) and a new south Porch in oak with a stone base were erected and new windows were inserted in the south Nave wall with perpendicular tracery to the five bays.
In 1945 the inner light oak vestibule was donated as a memorial to the men of the parish who died in the second world war and the oak organ case was donated at the same time as a token of thanksgiving for the end of the war. St Michael’s Chapel, at the east end of the North Aisle was refurbished and rededicated in 1993.A modern Vicar’s Vestry is situated in the north eastern part of the building and the choir vestry lies to the east of St Michael’s Chapel.
The restoration of the building was carried out initially by the architects Edmund Sharpe and Edward Paley and later by Paley and Hubert Austin when Sharpe had retired.
There are three church bells. The oldest is believed to be from the 15th century. The tenor bell is a recasting by Samuel Smith in 1724 and the third bell was recast at Wigan in 1694.
The stained glass window in the south east wall depicting the presentation of Jesus in the temple, commemorates the life of the Reverend Robert Gibson who was vicar at Holy Trinity for 50 years. Two more windows in the Chancel and Sanctuary are also associated with the Gibson family. The east window depicting the crucifixion and ascension of Christ, donated in1846 was anonymously refurbished in the early 1990’s. The window in the Tower is associated with the Masheder family who lived in Bolton-le-Sands and is thought to have been designed by Carl Almquist and made by Shrigley and Hunt. The window near the south west corner of the Nave was donated by former pupils of Mrs Mary Masheder.
Above the east end of the Nave is fitted a brass chandelier with two tiers of arms. This was a gift to the Church given by John and Ann Sparling, a prominent local family in 1774.
The Reredos below the east window is made from alabaster and was erected by Canon Beechey, the vicar at the time, in1897, in memory of his brother-in-law.
The plan of the Church consists of a west tower, nave, north aisle, chancel and south porch. The Tower is in three stages. For a plan of the Church see an appendix of attached documents.
The roofs of Holy Trinity are covered from Westmorland green slate of varying ages. The tower is large dressed ashlar sandstone. The Nave is made of local stone / “rubble” and the exterior of the south wall is pebble-dashed.
The church is lit by electric lights and heated by gas powered boilers and the chandelier(candles) is used on special occasions.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
Late 15th Century
Nave
Late 15th century Nave arcade - Late 15th century. Nave – 1813. Nave roof – installed
Chancel
East wall moved back 1846
Vestry
pre 1880
Aisle
North Aisle widened 1880
Kitchen
1880
Porch
South Porch 1880
Porch
Inner Porch 1945 Light oak, WW2 memorial on door.
Building Materials
Oak
Inner Porch 1945 WW2 memorial on door.
Interior
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1897
Font (component)
Modern
Reredos
1897 Alabaster
Pulpit
1897
Pew (component)
1897
Lectern
1897
Stained Glass
1846 East window - 1846, donated West window - late 19th century, donated south west window - 19th century south east window - memorial chancel & sanctuary - 19th century
Organ (component)
1945 Oak organ case, donated
Bells
Nominal: 877 Hz Weight: 896 lbs Diameter: 35.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Samuel II Smith 1724
Dove Bell ID: 11998 Tower ID: 16292 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 793 Hz Weight: 1232 lbs Diameter: 39.75" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by William Scott 1694
Dove Bell ID: 11999 Tower ID: 16292 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 483 677
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 is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 23/03/1988
The churchyard has war graves.
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 9 entries of 9 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.