St Michael and All Angel's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble
Encyclopedia
St Michael and All Angel's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble, is located in Egerton Road, Ashton-on-Ribble
, Preston, Lancashire
, England. It is an active Anglican
parish church
in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the diocese of Blackburn
. Its benefice is united with those of St Mark, Preston
, and St Andrew, Ashton-on-Ribble
, to form the benefice of the West Preston Team. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building.
to St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble
, in order to cope with the rising population in the area. Its foundation stone was laid in September 1906, and the church was consecrated
by the Bishop of Manchester
on 2 July 1908. The architects responsible for the design were Austin and Paley of Lancaster
. The building of the nave
was completed in July 1915, but the planned upper part of the tower was never built. St Michael's became a separate parish
in December 1929. In 1993 its benefice was united with that of St Mark, Preston, and in April 2006, it was further united with St Andrew, Ashton-on-Ribble.
with ashlar
dressings and red tiled roofs.
Its plan consists of a nave and chancel
in one range, a clerestory
, and north and south aisle
s. On the south side are a porch, the uncompleted tower, and a chapel. On the north side are a transept
, a vestry
, and an attached parish hall. Its architectural style is Perpendicular "in Arts and Crafts
manner". Along the sides of the clerestory are two-light windows, with ten on the north side and seven on the south. The aisle windows are square-headed with mullion
s, most of which have three lights. At the west end is a large five-light window. Above the doorway in the south porch is a panel with a carving of Saint Michael
. The tower consists of one tall stage, with angle buttress
es, a south doorway over which is a five-light window and, at the summit, a pyramidal roof. On the south side of the chancel are three clerestory windows, and at its east end is a short cant
ed sanctuary with buttresses. The east window has five lights. The chapel has two south windows, a four-light east window, and an embattled
parapet
.
consist of five bays
carried on octagonal piers
. The stained glass in the east window dates from 1868 and is by Harry Stammers. Elsewhere are windows from the early 20th century that are probably by Shrigley and Hunt
. The three-manual
organ was built in 1934 by Henry Ainscough, and overhauled by its maker in 1953.
Ashton-on-Ribble
Ashton-on-Ribble is a suburb of Preston, Lancashire, England.The terms Ashton-on-Ribble and Ashton are often used synonymously, although Ashton is a specific electoral ward whilst Ashton-on-Ribble is a term applied more generally to much of the west of Preston...
, Preston, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. It is an active Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the diocese of Blackburn
Diocese of Blackburn
The Diocese of Blackburn is a Church of England diocese, covering much of Lancashire, created in 1926 from part of the Diocese of Manchester. The Diocese includes the towns of Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, and the cities of Lancaster, and Preston, as well as a large part of the Ribble Valley...
. Its benefice is united with those of St Mark, Preston
St Mark's Church, Preston
St Mark's Church, Preston, is a redundant Anglican parish church in St Mark's Road, Preston, Lancashire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building...
, and St Andrew, Ashton-on-Ribble
St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble
St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble, is located in Blackpool Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St Michael...
, to form the benefice of the West Preston Team. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building.
History
St Michael's originated as a chapel of easeChapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
to St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble
St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble
St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble, is located in Blackpool Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St Michael...
, in order to cope with the rising population in the area. Its foundation stone was laid in September 1906, and the church was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
by the Bishop of Manchester
Bishop of Manchester
The Bishop of Manchester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Manchester in the Province of York.The current bishop is the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, the 11th Lord Bishop of Manchester, who signs Nigel Manchester. The bishop's official residence is Bishopscourt, Bury New Road,...
on 2 July 1908. The architects responsible for the design were Austin and Paley of Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
. The building of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
was completed in July 1915, but the planned upper part of the tower was never built. St Michael's became a separate parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in December 1929. In 1993 its benefice was united with that of St Mark, Preston, and in April 2006, it was further united with St Andrew, Ashton-on-Ribble.
Exterior
The church is constructed in snecked sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
dressings and red tiled roofs.
Its plan consists of a nave and chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
in one range, a clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
, and north and south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s. On the south side are a porch, the uncompleted tower, and a chapel. On the north side are a transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
, a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, and an attached parish hall. Its architectural style is Perpendicular "in Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
manner". Along the sides of the clerestory are two-light windows, with ten on the north side and seven on the south. The aisle windows are square-headed with mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
s, most of which have three lights. At the west end is a large five-light window. Above the doorway in the south porch is a panel with a carving of Saint Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
. The tower consists of one tall stage, with angle buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es, a south doorway over which is a five-light window and, at the summit, a pyramidal roof. On the south side of the chancel are three clerestory windows, and at its east end is a short cant
Cant
Cant, canting, or canted may refer to:*Empty, uncritical thought or talk - see *The slope or angle at which something is set, such as the frames of a ship's hull - again, see *Cant , a secret language...
ed sanctuary with buttresses. The east window has five lights. The chapel has two south windows, a four-light east window, and an embattled
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
.
Interior
The arcadesArcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
consist of five bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
carried on octagonal piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. The stained glass in the east window dates from 1868 and is by Harry Stammers. Elsewhere are windows from the early 20th century that are probably by Shrigley and Hunt
Shrigley and Hunt
Shrigley and Hunt was the name of an English firm which produced stained glass windows and art tiles.The business began in the 1750s when Shrigley's was a painting, carving and gilding firm in Lancaster, Lancashire....
. The three-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ was built in 1934 by Henry Ainscough, and overhauled by its maker in 1953.