Church Heritage Record 603145

Aisled nave and narrower chancel, south transept.

Nave estimated to be 14m x 13m (44’ x 40’8’’).

There are no recorded prehistoric or Roman finds in Nelson. The Nelson historic town assessment provides a history of the area. It explains that local place names suggest Anglo-Saxon settlement, although the earliest documentary evidence dates to the 12th century. At this time the two townships of Great and Little Marsden were in existence and were divided across two manors within the parish of Whalley. The name ‘Nelson’ was not used until the mid-19th century. The name was introduced by the East Lancashire Railway Company which opened a station at Hibson in 1849, after the Lord Nelson Inn, a local landmark. By the medieval period the area was characterised by farming with some small-scale coal mining and, from the 14th century, some cloth manufacture. Common land was enclosed in the first half of the 17th century. Muslin manufacturing had been introduced by 1750. Spinning mills were built in the 18th century. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal opened in 1776, and turnpike roads in the late 18th century, both stimulating further growth of the cloth industry. The population of Nelson and its environs grew exponentially in the second half of the 19th century, and again following the arrival of the railway in 1849. Housing and mills also grew in number.

The archaeological potential of the site is low.

Burial of cremated remains on N side of churchyard. Churchyard backs onto a nature reserve (Priority Habitat Inventory: Deciduous Woodland) and is bordered with mature trees to the W.

It is narrow and high, this making up for its lack of a tower or belcote. The style chosen is basically Early English with some touches of Free Gothic and Arts and Crafts influence, more obvious in the interior.  This would appear to be a trademark of the architect’s work.

The east façade has a gabled and shouldered parapet, with a large round-headed blind arch under this containing a round window split into quarters by the arms of a large cross in relief, giving together a Celtic cross motif.  Below this at ground level is a rectangular 5-light window with a curious overhanging monolithic lintel, to light the crypt.  These are broken and partly boarded up.

There is a long single pointed lancet in the sanctuary side walls with free Gothic tracery, and the parapet is carried around the sides with a gable in the west bay of the north wall of the chancel above a pointed 3-light window with cusped tracery. Two rectangular 2-light windows at ground level have been boarded up.

The south transept façade is the same height and form as the east, but is treated as if it were a tower, pierced by four tiers of windows.  The lowest stage has a single rectangular window offset to the east, to make space for the foundation stone in the middle.  The next stage up has a rectangular 2-light, above this is a tall lancet as in the sanctuary side walls.  Above this in the head of the gable is a tall narrow rectangular light.  The north and south walls have another 2-light at the same height as in the south façade to light the organ chamber.  There is also a simple door in the east wall and another in the south leading down via steps to the boiler room.

The nave fenestration is of Y-tracery 2-lights, three in the north wall and two in the western bays of the south, the eastern bay has a rectangular 2-light.  There is a 2-light pointed window with Y-tracery in the east end of the south aisle.  The west wall is blind and rendered, with a single small bell held in stocks under a tiny gable protruding from the wall. Under this are two strip pilasters.  There is a small gabled block at the south-west corner.

The interior is a surprise, with exposed grey stonework and dark engineering brick arches contrasting with the whitewashed roof and chancel arch.  The latter is plain, pointed and dies very gently into the walls.  The other arches giving access to the organ chamber from the south aisle and the opening to the nave are similar.  The nave bays are articulated by curving trusses, the ceiling is pointed and panelled.

The floors are of woodblock, with green carpets in the central aisle and chancel.  The nave is full of chairs, probably 1930s.  The sanctuary has plain benches with panelled fronts as choir stalls, with a similar panelled screen taking up half the organ chamber arch, the console, Baroque style case and exposed pipes visible above.  Under the east end there is a crypt with a small chapel and toilets.