the church
The Church Building
FOUNDING
St Saviour's church was created as a chapelry in 1836 from the existing parish of St Leonard, Walton-le-Dale, although it was not until 1884 that it officially achieved the status as a parish in its own right. Initially both churches were part of the Diocese of Chester.
The new church building was mainly funded by public subscription, the land having been donated by Robert Townley Parker of Cuerden Hall. It was designed in a Romanesque style by the young Lancaster architect Edmund Sharpe, following his architectural study tour of Europe. It was one of his first commissions and one of several early churches he designed in this style.
The agreed plan was for the large but relatively simple church, with a nave seating a congregation of 450, with a small rectangular chancel, a balcony at the 'west' end, and a slender spire with a single bell. The estimated cost was £1,360, equivalent to over £120,000 at today's values. The foundation stone of the new building was laid on 28 July 1836 by Robert Townley Parker, and the completed structure consecrated on 3 October 1837 by the Bishop of Chester.
EXPANSION
By the 1880s there had been significant population growth in the parish, and there was a need to increase the capacity of the church. Consequently in 1886 work began to add two short transepts to the simple rectangular nave, and the current chancel, with its apsidal end, was also added, replacing the smaller rectangular chancel of the original church. The architect was Thomas Harrison Myres of Preston, who followed the general style of Sharpe's original building. The foundation stone for this extension was laid on 17 July 1886, and the enlarged church was re-consecrated on 10 February 1887 by the Bishop of Manchester.
By the 1880s there had been significant population growth in the parish, and there was a need to increase the capacity of the church. Consequently in 1886 work began to add two short transepts to the simple rectangular nave, and the current chancel, with its apsidal end, was also added, replacing the smaller rectangular chancel of the original church. The architect was Thomas Harrison Myres of Preston, who followed the general style of Sharpe's original building. The foundation stone for this extension was laid on 17 July 1886, and the enlarged church was re-consecrated on 10 February 1887 by the Bishop of Manchester.
Externally the new extensions were built in matching Whittle stone, but internally polished granite columns were introduced to support the transept arches, with other features such as the arches themselves dressed with finer Longridge sandstone.
However, the records tell us that there was still considerable prudence exercised in the enlarging of the building, with the original chancel 'rose' window salvaged and reused in the new south transept, and a matching one made for the opposite transept. Similarly the lancet windows of the old chancel were reused in the new vestry and organ chamber, the best nave windows were inserted into in the north wall to replace the old doorway, and much of the dressed stone was also salvaged and reused.
THE WINDOWS
St Saviour's church has little pictorial stained glass, the majority of the narrow, round arched single lancet windows having a diaper pattern of small plain leaded lights, with some ornamentation in the leadwork just below the arch, such as the formation of a Star of David.
Of the pictorial windows, a group of three are to be found in the chancel. These were added in 1891, not long after the construction of the chancel, in memory of local mill owner GB Dewhurst, and were reputed to have been donated by his former employees. They depict Isaiah, Jeremiah and David.
The other prominent item of commemorative stained glass in the church was installed in 1955 as part of the Baptistery, and depicts the Virgin and Child. This window was a gift from the St Saviour's Mothers' Union.
IMPROVEMENTS
By the 1920s we are told that the church building was beginning to show its age, and was particularly in need of redecoration and some improved lighting. Consequently, in 1928 the church had electric lighting installed for the first time, with redecoration of the interior completed the following year, and new flooring laid to the aisles. However, apart from this work, and some necessary but general repairs, few alterations were made during the period from the 1890s to the twenty-first century. Arguably the more significant changes during this period concerned the setting of the church building. There was an expansion of the churchyard in the 1920s (see the Churchyard section), but prime amongst the changes around the building was the creation in 1958 of the Preston Bypass, now better known as the M6 motorway. This radical piece of engineering effectively separated the church itself from the eastern side of the parish. Later, in 1986, the Bamber Bridge by-pass was also built close by, as the A6 trunk road was diverted around the south of the church, leaving the old Church Road downgraded and as a cul-de-sac.
By the 1920s we are told that the church building was beginning to show its age, and was particularly in need of redecoration and some improved lighting. Consequently, in 1928 the church had electric lighting installed for the first time, with redecoration of the interior completed the following year, and new flooring laid to the aisles. However, apart from this work, and some necessary but general repairs, few alterations were made during the period from the 1890s to the twenty-first century. Arguably the more significant changes during this period concerned the setting of the church building. There was an expansion of the churchyard in the 1920s (see the Churchyard section), but prime amongst the changes around the building was the creation in 1958 of the Preston Bypass, now better known as the M6 motorway. This radical piece of engineering effectively separated the church itself from the eastern side of the parish. Later, in 1986, the Bamber Bridge by-pass was also built close by, as the A6 trunk road was diverted around the south of the church, leaving the old Church Road downgraded and as a cul-de-sac.
Recent years have brought significant changes to the building, which prior to 2010 had seen few alterations. First, the parish embarked on the creation of a new narthex to provide a much needed meeting space at the back of church, with its associated tea kitchen and accessible toilet. Some of the rear pews were removed, making space to relocate a Victorian timber screen which, linked with a modern glass screen, now separates the new space for the remaining nave. The Suite, as it has become known, was opened and blessed by Bishop in 2011.
While this disruptive work was going on, the church seized the opportunity to completely renew the heating system, with new radiators, pipework, and modern, efficient condensing boilers.
DAMAGE AND REPAIR
Just as work was about to start on the exciting narthex improvements, our roof incurred a significant amount of damage at the hands of thieves as they smashed the slates to rip out the lead. This was a devastating blow to all who had raised and committed money to the narthex project but the roof had to be repaired and costing the options it was agreed that repair was not a viable option. With help from English Heritage enough money was raised to re-slate the whole church, at the same time improving the roof insulation, and using terne-coated stainless steel for the flashings instead of lead. To reduce the risk of future damage the roof was also equipped with the latest alarm system.
Unfortunately, despite all attempts to protect the building, a considerable amount of rainwater did enter during the period between the lead being stolen and the final re-roofing, The water damaged the plaster of the walls, and also found its way into parts of the pipe organ.
It was even more distressing to discover later that the water had caused an outbreak of dry rot in the roof timbers. A further period of fund-raising followed and after much effort eventually allowed the parish to eradicated the rot and treat the timber and masonry in and around the affected areas.
Parts of the interior were cocooned in scaffolding and plastic sheets for a two years.
A significant part of the subsequent repair work however entailed making some important structural repairs to the roof trusses, and quite extensive re-plastering of the affected walls.
The opportunity was taken during this work also to make repairs to other areas which already had defective plasterwork.
One significant consequence of the roof lead theft was the damage done to the pipe organ, which was already in need of a major overhaul. Expert opinion confirmed that it was beyond economic repair, eventually leading to the purchase of a high quality electronic organ as replacement.
This instrument has been temporarily housed in the transept, but work has now started to move it into the chancel. A radical reordering of the chancel is being undertaken, with the old pipe organ and choir pews removed, giving us a larger and more flexible space for a variety of worship options.
The church was listed Grade II in 1984, as was the former St Saviour's School across the road, which was begun in 1840.