Church of St Peter and St Paul

Details

ORMSKIRK

SD4108SW CHURCH STREET 663-1/7/145 (North West side) 11/05/53 Church of St Peter and St Paul

GV II*

Parish church. Very complicated history of rebuilding and enlargement, beginning in the C12 (part of north wall of chancel), principally: the late C13 (south arcade of chancel); the late C14 (steeple at west end of south aisle); the C16 (west tower c.1540-50, and probably the Derby and Scarisbick chapels); c.1729 (rebuilding of nave and aisles in classical style, of which only the south aisle wall remains); and concluding with thorough restoration in 1877-91 by Paley and Austin (north aisle and nave arcades). The plan now consists of a nave with west tower, north aisle, south aisle with west steeple and now incorporating Scarisbrick chapel at its east end, chancel with vestry to north and Derby chapel to south; plus, in the angle between the tower and the steeple, a late C19 cast-iron urinal. Coursed squared sandstone, stone slate roofs. The west tower has a massive square plan, and is of 3 unequal stages (the 1st forming the lower half); with diagonal buttresses, a weathered plinth, weathered coping to the 1st stage, set-back upper stages with weathered sillband, and an embattled parapet with crocketed pinnacles in the centre and at the corners. It has a 4-centred arched west doorway with 3 orders of roll-moulding, a restored Perpendicular 3-light window above the doorway, a square-headed looplight to the 2nd stage, and coupled 2-centred arched 3-light belfry windows with intersecting tracery and stone louvres; and in each of the other sides a 3-light window offset eastwards. The 6-bay north aisle (by Paley and Austin) is buttressed, alternate buttresses carried up as pinnacles dividing windows into pairs, and large 3-light windows with varied Perpendicular tracery; and the continued 2-bay vestry is in similar style. The C18 three-bay south aisle has its original parapet including a large rectangular sundial forming an upstand with scrolled supporters, but late C19 three-light windows in Perpendicular style. Attached at the west of this aisle is the late C14 steeple, which has a square 1st stage with angle buttresses, a doorway at its base (enclosed by a late C19 shallow angled porch) and a 2-light window above; a broached octagonal 2nd stage with an oversailing parapet; and an octagonal spire (rebuilt 1832). Continued to the east of the south aisle, and stepped out from it, is the Scarisbrick chapel which has 2 large 3-light windows with transoms; and beyond that the Derby chapel, which has 2 large 4-light windows, and a very wide 7-light east window with a transom at the springing of the arch and 14 small round-headed lights above. The chancel has a 5-light east window with a transom, and incorporated in the masonry below this are 2 carved stones, one depicting a raven and the other with 2 recumbent figures. INTERIOR: late C19 five-bay aisle arcades of capital-less moulded piers and 2-centred arches similarly moulded in 2 orders; broadly-chamfered 2-centred arch from steeple to south aisle; wooden ceiling to nave with carved hammerbeam trusses; on north side of chancel, part of C12 wall with deeply-splayed Norman window which has shafts with scallop capitals; and on south side a C13 two-bay arcade of double-chamfered 2-centred arches on octagonal pier and responds with moulded caps; C17 parclose screens to 2 sides of Derby chapel, with turned balusters; in this chapel, 2 pairs of C15 alabaster effigies (mutilated) and 2 tomb chests with panels containing quatrefoils; in Scarisbrick chapel, a hatchment and a wall monument dated 1737; at west end of south aisle, bookshelves with names and date 1682 in raised lettering; and font dated 1661, given by the Countess of Derby. Font, stone, dated 1661, with panelled octagonal basin containing date, the letters C.R., a cross, hourglass, pelican on a columnar base. Glass in tower by Holliday.

Listing NGR: SD4130608436

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

386382

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry