Trinity Community Church
Overview
Grid reference: SD 763 280
The church was built in 1838-40 to designs by A Y Williams. This Victorian, Commissioners-style building with tall paired lancets was at one time a much more impressive building with a west tower, spire and abundance of pinnacles. The west tower and spire were demolished in the 1950s due to an outbreak of dry rot and at this time the roof was lowered, the pinnacles removed and the windows covered with plastic. The fenestration is simple and would once have been elegant and in keeping with the tall spire. The lancets are of equal width and can be found on the east face and the transepts in groups of three, with the central slightly taller.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave (and separated community area), short chancel, transepts, west porch. WC / kitchen facilities, rooms on first and ground floors.
Dimensions:
Nave and chancel 10m (32ft) x 27m (88ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 574 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Christ Church was built in 1838-40 to designs by A Y Williams. The original building would have appeared very differently to what we see today. The west tower and spire were demolished in the 1950s due to an outbreak of dry rot and at this time the roof was lowered, the pinnacles removed and the windows covered with plastic. The entrances excepting that in the south transept are bricked up and this was presumably also carried out in the 1950s. A flat-roofed extension was added in 1968 at the west end and has since become the principal entrance. This contains WC facilities which were added later. In 2001 the nave was screened off to create a community lounge and a lower ceiling introduced.
Exterior Description
A truncated building which appears fully redundant from the outside. Bricked up entrances and blocked windows, albeit neatly and for the purpose of protection, do nothing to make this a welcoming building or indeed indicate that it is used at all. This Victorian, Commissioners-style building with tall paired lancets was at one time a much more impressive building with a west tower, spire and abundance of pinnacles; the latter were described by Pevsner as ‘clumsy’ but they are arguably preferable to the rather ordinary building before us today. The lowered roof now hangs down over the tips of the windows and cuts short the squared buttresses, which restricts the intended proportions.
The fenestration is simple and would once have been elegant and in keeping with the tall spire. The lancets are of equal width and can be found on the east face and the transepts in groups of three, with the central slightly taller (the main transeptal windows are set within a further pointed arch with tiny trefoils above the outer lancets). Elsewhere the windows are paired and of equal height: on the east faces of the transepts, the chancel walls and also in three pairs in the nave walls. The west faces of the transepts have shorter paired lancets and doorways below; the latter have pointed arches and simple moulding and are bricked up. Both the transepts have larger doorways with three orders of shafts in their north and south elevations but only the south is not bricked up (although it is not in use). The west porch has domestic rectangular windows but is flanked with small single lancets in the west wall and above the porch there is a further rectangular window.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century
Chancel
19th century
Transept
19th century
Porch
19th century
Stained Glass
East window. Seven scenes from the life of Christ including the Last Supper and the Resurrection. Each scene (apart from the central) is enclosed in a sexfoil and the rest of the window has a coloured intersecting design of quatrefoils and diamonds. Maker unknown.
Stained Glass
South transept. Central light. The Magi. Inscription unclear. Maker unknown.
Stained Glass
Nave south – (left light) St Paul and unknown figure above (right light) Apollos and unknown figure above. An affectionate remembrance of my Father and Mother Robert and Louisa Hargreaves of Bank House Accrington, who are buried in this churchyard. By their daughter Louisa Grace Robertson Aikman.
Stained Glass
Nave south – (left light) St James and St Peter above. Given by John Bannister of Mexico in memory of his parents. (right light) St Jude and Dorcas above. In memory of John Bannister given by his sisters Clara Buckle, Emma and Edith Bannister 1905.
Stained Glass
Nave north – (left light) St Matthew. (right light) St Mark. Below each Saint is a depiction of Jesus with the small children. In memory of James and Martha Bullough of Baxenden. Given by their only surviving child Margaret Kerr and their twelve grandchildren 1905.
Stained Glass
Nave north – (left light) St Luke. (right light) St John. Below each Saint is a scene from the Good Samaritan. In grateful remembrance of John Hargreaves Esq. Of Broad Oak, a patron of this church and a generous benefactor, and Mary Jane his wife. Erected by the congregation and friends Sept 1900.
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th Century
Crutchman Sandstone
Welsh Slate
19th Century
Welsh Slate
Welsh Slate
19th century roof
Brick
19th Century The walls are built of solid brickwork with sandstone ashlar dressings.
Sandstone
19th Century The walls are built of solid brickwork with sandstone ashlar dressings.
Interior
Interior Description
Moving inside the building the porch has a modern feel with WC facilities. It leads into a vestibule which has offices to the south and a creche to the north; also to the south is a stairway to the upstairs rooms which are currently only to the west end of the building. A screen at the crossing has separated the nave into two parts and the western half is now a community area. There is a small kitchenette in the south-west corner. This section of the nave contains a set of stained glass windows: the eastern two of the three pairs on each side (see section below). The new ceiling is suspended so that the windows are still visible to full height but only when one is standing close enough to look up at them.
The worship area of the church has been reordered to fit within the reduced space of the crossing and the chancel and the pews are angled towards the chancel; the organ has been placed in the south transept. Both transepts have angled screening to create storage areas in the corners and the north also has a small chapel. The main east window contains stained glass as does the central panel of the south transept (see section below) but otherwise the windows are plain glazed and backed with vandalite plastic.
The nave and chancel are now quite simple in style; the only detail is the engaged cluster columns with moulded capitals that previously supported the vaulting and arcading and are now redundant, the capitals falling just short of the ceiling. A simple but large oak cross hangs on the partition wall which now forms the west end of the nave; the chancel fittings make a pleasant ensemble and are all in matching oak with carved tracery detailing.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
•In chancel - large oak table with formica top; carved open tracery work at the front. •In north transept - a smaller altar which has carved figures on the front panels.
Pulpit
20th Century Large hexagonal oak pulpit with open tracery panels, rear steps on a complex coved base with cluster columns and again open tracery in the panels. Jones & Willis plaque To the Glory of God and in tender memory of a dear Father and Mother. Abraham Ashworth JP and Hannah his wife. This pulpit and prayer desk are erected by their loving and only daughter and her husband Thomas E and Lizzie Higham Palm Sunday 1905
Lectern
19th Century Wooden eagle. To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Richard and Maryann Kenyon this lectern is dedicated by their daughter Betsy Ann Thompson May 14th 1893
Font (object)
Petite octagonal stone on central column; brass lid.
Organ (component)
20th Century J W[alker] & Sons 1966. Small extension organ.
Pew (object)
Dark-stained pitched pine pews with panelled backs.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SD 763 280
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
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 26/07/1972
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
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