Diameter: 18.13" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Abraham Smith 1664
Dove Bell ID: 50912 Tower ID: 18276 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bentham: St Margaret
Overview
Grid reference: SD 668 688
St Margaret’s is situated south of the town, on raised ground to the east of Station Road. It was designed by George Webster and funded and built on land owned by Hornby Roughsedge, a local mill owner. It opened as a chapel of ease in 1837. The church is designed in a plain lancet style with a continuous embattled parapet around the church giving the appearance of a Commissioner’s church. The three-stage tower, also embattled (originally with pinnacles), sits centrally within the west elevation with the west nave walls rising to meet it to either side. This is the elevation which is visible on approach to the church.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
3-stage west tower with porch at ground level. 4-bay aisleless nave, 2-bay chancel, north organ chamber/vestry (with boiler chamber beneath) and south Lady Chapel. South porch between the angle of the south nave wall and the south chapel.
Dimensions:
(Approximate) Nave 18m (59ft) x 12m (39ft), chancel 10m (33ft) x 12m (39ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 398 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
St Margaret's was designed by the architect George Webster. The church was funded and built on land owned by Hornby Roughsedge, a local mill owner. A foundation stone was laid on 30th June 1836 and the church opened as a chapel of ease on 1st January 1837. The church reflects the style of many Commissioners' churches.
The burial ground was consecrated in 1863. In 1901 additional land was bought enabling the extension of the church and its churchyard. Work on a new chancel, transepts and vestry, designed by Austin and Paley, started in 1901 as commemorated by a carved foundation stone on the outer east wall of the chancel. As part of these works, the plaster ceiling was removed in the nave and the seating capacity was increased from 300 to 350. The organ was relocated from a position on a west gallery to the north transept.
The chancel was reordered in 1986 and pews were removed from the west end in the 1990s to create an area of flexible space.
St Margaret's was the first church on the site. The archaeological potential for the site is considered to be low.
Exterior Description
The church is designed in a plain lancet style with a continuous embattled parapet around the church giving the appearance of a Commissioner’s church. The three-stage tower, also embattled (originally with pinnacles), sits centrally within the west elevation with the west nave walls rising to meet it to either side. This is the elevation which is visible on approach to the church. At ground level a door, accessed via three steps, provides entry into the building. Above is a stepped tripartite window with 2-light louvred belfry opening to the top, repeated on each side.
North and south elevations are fenestrated with paired lancets under hood moulds with pendant stops; buttresses at bay divisions. Single lights pierce the west elevation either side of the tower base. The north side of the vestry has two sets of two-light trefoil heads. The chapel has to its south side two sets of two-light trefoil heads (square headed) and a three-light window with trefoil heads surmounted by rose window to east. The east end of the chancel has a three-light trefoil headed window with reticulated tracery.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
19th century 3-stage west tower
Porch
19th century ground level of tower
Nave
19th century 4-bay aisleless nave
Chancel
19th century 2-bay
Vestry
19th century north organ chamber/vestry
Lady Chapel
19th century south
Porch
19th century south porch between the angle of the south nave wall and the south chapel
Stained Glass
1903
East window - Lord's Supper. In memory of Hornby Roughsedge, founder of this church, and his wife Margaret. By Shrigley and Hunt.
Stained Glass
1909
Lady chapel, east window. The Good Samaritan. In memory of Thomas Wilcock who died 4 Dec 1908. By Shrigley and Hunt/
Stained Glass
1913
Lady chapel, 2 south windows. Virgin, Child and St John and St Peter and St Margaret. In Memory of Mary Wilcock who died 20 Apr 1913
Stained Glass
Vestry, east window. Presentation in the temple
Building Materials
Stone
19th century rock faced stone with stone dressings
Slate
19th century slate tile roof covering
Interior
Interior Description
Access is from the west, through the base of the tower. Inside, the aisleless nave is wide and spacious. The only coloured glass is at the east end, with plain glazing elsewhere. The stone-flag floor is carpeted in the aisles and chancel whilst numbered pews sit on raised wood pew platforms in the nave (cleared at west end with some seats). The main space is covered by a king-post roof structure with scissor braces (exposed 1902). The walls in the nave and chancel have been stripped back to the stone, whilst Paley and Austin's extensions of this time were built to remain as bare stone walls. Nave walls have wood panelled dado with blind tracery. A modern glazed wood draught lobby surrounds the west entrance and incorporates a WC.
The pointed chancel arch has lower arches to either side - that to the north contains organ pipes with a door beneath leading to the vestry, that to the south has an open tracery screen to the chapel. The chancel has a two-bay arcade supported on octagonal stone columns to north and south. A curtained wood screen is positioned between arches to the south side of the chancel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century carved wooden altar table in nave; wooden altar table in LC
Reredos
20th century parts of 1902 reredos incorporated into new high altar table during 1986 reordering
Rood Screen
19th century modern corpus on 13th century wood mounted on an American oak cross and suspended from chancel beam
Pulpit
19th century octagonal oak with blind tracery panels, stone steps, c 1896
Lectern
19th century brass eagle c 1866
Font (component)
20th century octagonal stone font with oak cover c 1902
Rail
20th century fixed oak communion rails c 1902
Organ (object)
1893
2 manual organ built by Charles Vincent and Son, Sunderland to replace the original organ in the west gallery. Relocated in 1901 and pneumatic action replaced by tracker action by Bibby and Wolfenden of Arkholme. Restored by Henry Ainscough of Preston in 1937, and rebuilt in 1952. Oak case with brass plaque inscribed to commemorate rebuild in memory of William and Richard Wilcock, 1937.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers dating from 1967 (baptism), 1970 (marriages), and 1958 (burials).
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 668 688
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.
It is unknown whether 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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