Church Heritage Record 603291

5-bay aisled nave (the aisles of four bays) under one roof with transepts only expressed above the aisles, shallow slightly lower chancel,  south-east organ chamber, north-east chapel, west vestry block.

Nave (without west extension) estimated to be c 17m x 7m (55ft x 23ft).

Preston has Roman, Saxon and medieval origins, but nothing of this is visible above ground. The town developed slowly through the post-medieval period, then rapidly expanded for the textile industry from the late 18th century, as with most Lancashire towns.  After a long period of decline in the 20th century it is now experiencing a relative boom, with much regeneration of the area around the centre, although the periphery is less affected by this.  This part of Ribbleton is an urban priority area of 1930s and later housing estates.

The church was built in 1886-90 to a design by R Knill Freeman of Manchester, who also designed several churches in Preston itself and in other Lancashire towns. It was not built as originally planned, it would appear that there was meant to be a west tower, which is now simply a continuation of the nave beyond the aisles. The latter are not shown in the plan, which indeed bears little resemblance to the present building.

The church is designed in the Decorated style.

The nave extends one bay beyond the shallowly pitched aisles, whose roofs hit the eaves of the nave. This western bay was probably intended as the base of a tower, and there is a large arched entrance in the south wall with continuous mouldings which would tend to support this. The west elevation has a large pointed 4-light with Decorated tracery flanked by sheer buttresses of one weathering.  The south wall has two closely spaced 2-light pointed windows. 

The west ends of the aisles have a small rose window in the north over the vestry, and a 2-light in the south.  The aisles have two similarly closely spaced 2-lights between buttresses of two weatherings, then the rhythm is interrupted by a double gabled transept, of one lower narrow west bay with a long narrow 2-light and one wider higher gable with a rose window and a rose window high in the east wall; on the other side of this the organ chamber is continued along the west bay of the chancel south wall with a single lancet, ending with a 2-light window in the east wall, similar with the north chapel, but with a rose window in the east wall. 

Beyond this are two closely spaced pointed 2-light windows in the chancel south wall. The east window is a pointed 3-light with Perpendicular tracery between gables of two weatherings.  A long vestry block comes off the west end to the north, flat roofed and with round-headed windows in groups of two or three in the west wall.

The interior is subtle and muted, the arcades smooth with pointed arches dying into the sheer octagonal piers, and transverse arches to the transepts. There is much here reminiscent of Freeman's work at Bamber Bridge St Aidan, but on a smaller and more intimate scale.

The walls are whitewashed, the floors carpeted throughout in red, but a calmer shade than often found, north chapel in the transept has a grey carpet.  Tunnel-vaulted roofs.  The west end is partitioned off by a traceried and glazed wooden screen, with a glazed and arched panelled draught lobby on the south side.  Simple arches give access to the north-west vestry and south-east organ chamber. The south transept has a traceried wooden screen to the organ chamber and panelling on the south wall and is used as a  baptistery.

The nave and aisles are fully pewed with plain light-stained benches with open lancet backrests to some, similar choir stalls in the chancel.  The south aisle has been partly cleared and is used as a tea area.  The chancel arch is broad and barely interrupts the roofline, with the slightest capitals. The organ pipes are displayed on the south side, which also has a simple sedilia and piscina.  The north side opens through an arch to the Lady Chapel. A panelled reredos under the stained glass east window provides a dignified focus at the east end.  Nicely panelled vestry.