Christ Church Chatburn: Enlargement

CHRIST CHURCH – 1837 and 1883.  The earlier work by Sharpe, the latter by F Robinson. But who did what? The tower is known to be by Sharpe. The rest, if by Robinson, would be a remarkably faithful interpretation of an Early Victorian style. One can hardly believe it; all is so entirely of a piece. The style is Romanesque with Lombard friezes like Sharpe’s St Mark’s Blackburn. The three cross-gabled transeptal bays and the east apse also look 1838 rather than 1883. [Pevsner 1969]

CHRIST CHURCH, CHATBURN - Mr. John Hargreaves attended on behalf of the churchwardens of Christ Church, Chatburn, who desire to make important alterations in that edifice. The church, it was stated, is too small for the requirements of the parish, and a faculty is desired to remove the roof and the present internal fittings. to take down the east end wall and portions of the north and south walls in order that the church may be enlarged; to place in the church, when enlarged, suitable benches, and to provide an open-timbered roof. A vestry meeting had approved the alterations which will necessitate an expenditure of about £3,000. Mrs Robinson, of the Manor House, Chatburn, had promised to defray the whole of the cost of the enlargement. When it has been enlarged the church will accommodate about one third more worshippers. The Chancellor decreed a citation on the understanding that the free sittings should be increased in the same proportion as the other seats. [Manchester Guardian 4 June 1881 page 7]

RE-OPENING OF CHATBURN CHURCH - In the spring of last year, the idea occurred to Mrs Dixon Robinson to enlarge the church in memory of her late husband, and her brother, the Rev R Ingram, (first vicar of Chatburn).  At first, she offered a donation of £1,000 towards the object, and, if after subscriptions had been called for there remained any deficiency, she offered to make it up. The plans for the necessary works were prepared by Mr F J Robinson, architect, of Derby, and carried out under his supervision. The church formerly consisted of nave in the shape of a parallelogram, a small apse or chancel at the east end, with tower and spire at the west end, the latter being the most striking feature about the building. The walls of the nave up to the south west door were taken down and the church has been widened by the addition of north and south aisles, arcade interiorly, and finished externally with gables at right angles to the nave. The aisles are divided from the nave by three arches on either side, involving the erection of two pillars with carved capitals. The chancel has been extended to double its former dimensions, and north and south transepts have been added, the former one being used as organ chamber and choir vestry. The new work has been designed to harmonise with the old, the architecture being Romanesque or Byzantine in style. The materials employed are the Runcorn red sandstone with Bath-stone bands and capitals to the pillars and carved Bath-stone capitals. There are clusters of pillars in either side to the entrance to the chancel, in which shafts of polished marble, from the local quarries, have been introduced, and the same material has also been utilised for the sacristy steps. The chancel has been laid with Minton tiles. The chancel, which is designed more especially as a memorial to the late vicar, has three small windows rather high up above the communion table. Each of these has been filled with stained glass, subscribed by the parishioners. The central or eastern window represents the Crucifixion; in that on the south side is a figure of St Martin, to whom in ancient times, there was a chapel dedicated in the parish; and on the north is a representation of St Paulinus, with pastoral staff and episcopal robe, who is believed to be the first missionary of Christianity in this part of Lancashire. These windows are the work of Messrs Lavers of London, upon whom they reflect great credit, by reason of their design and execution. The ceilings of the nave and chancel are timbered, and the walls are of limestone with sandstone dressings. The accommodation for worshippers which was formerly returned in the Diocesan Calendar as 310 has been increased to 450. The mason’s work has been most admirably carried out by Messrs E Lewis and Son, Blackburn; the woodwork having been equally well done by Messrs Ambrose Veevers and Sons of Clitheroe. The total cost of the works has been about £2,500.[Preston Herald 29 September 1882 page 3]

RE-OPENING OF CHATBURN PARISH CHURCH - The Chatburn Parish Church was re-opened on Monday by the Bishop of Manchester. During the past year the church has been enlarged, as a memorial to the late Mr. Dixon Robinson of Clitheroe Castle, the first promoter of the building, and in memory of the Rev R. Ingram, M.A., the first incumbent. By the alterations the church accommodation has been doubled, and the edifice will now seat about 450 persons. The nave, with the exception of a small portion at the west end, has been entirely rebuilt; a new chancel, with north and south aisles and corresponding nave aisles has been added; and new roofs cover the whole building. Several new stained-glass windows have been added. The greater part of the cost of the enlargement (about £2,700) is defrayed by the friends of the above deceased gentleman. [Manchester Weekly Times 1882 23 September 1882 page 6]

CHATBURN - Yesterday morning the Bishop of Manchester preached the sermon at a special service held in Chatburn Parish Church, to commemorate the reopening of that edifice after extensive alteration and enlargement. Originally the church consisted of a nave, with small chancel, apse, and tower. It has now been enlarged by the addition of north and south aisles. The chancel has been doubled in size, and north and south transepts added, one being used as an organ chamber and choir vestry. The chief portions of the work have been done as memorials to the late Mr. Dixon Robinson, of Clitheroe Castle, and the Rev. R. Ingram, late vicar of Chatburn. The accommodation of the church is doubled, and sittings are now provided for about 450 worshippers; The alterations have been carried out from the plans of Mr. F. J. Robinson, of Derby, by Messrs. E. Lewis. and Sons, of Blackburn. and Messrs. Ambrose Veevers and Sons, of Clitheroe. [Manchester Guardian 19 September 1882 page 6]

CHATBURN CHURCH - On the 1st July last year a faculty was granted for extending and making considerable alterations in Christ Church, Chatburn, near Clitheroe. The work, which has been going on since that period, has involved the demolition of the greater part of the original structure, erected and consecrated in 1838; the spire, porch, and portion of the west end alone remaining. The extension includes a new chancel with north and south aisles, and also corresponding aisles to the nave. A handsome new roof covers the whole of the building, and the old uncomfortable pews are being replaced by well-designed open seats. Several memorial stained-glass windows, by Messrs Lavers and Company, of London, are about to be placed in the church The cost of the new structure, which is being raised as a memorial to the Rev. Robert Ingram, M.A., who was the first vicar of the church (in which he continued 41 years, dying July 20, 1879), and Mr. Dixon Robinson of Clitheroe Castle, is being defrayed by Mrs. Robinson of the Manor House, Chatburn, and few friends: The architect is Mr. F. J Robinson; of Derby. The church will be reopened on Monday September 18, the anniversary of the opening of the original building in 1838. It may be added that, according to Dr. Whitaker, Chatburn, "so called from its steady stream," once possessed an ancient chapel, dedicated to St Martin, which survived the dissolution of the chantries, though the site is now only remembered by the name of the "Chapel Croft." [Manchester Guardian 26 August 1882 page 9]

Reference        Pevsner: North Lancashire, 1969, page 93
Reference        Hartwell and Pevsner, 2009, page 209
Reference        Manchester Guardian 4 June 1881 page 7 -faculty
Reference        Preston Herald 29 September 1882 page 3
Reference        Manchester Weekly Times 23 September 1882 page 6
Reference        Manchester Guardian 19 September 1882 page 6
Reference        Manchester Guardian 26 August 1882 page 9