Bispham Parish Church

Last updated

Bispham Parish Church
All Hallows Church, Bispham
BisphamParishChurch01.jpg
Location map United Kingdom Blackpool.svg
Red pog.svg
Bispham Parish Church
Bispham Parish Church shown within Blackpool
Location Bispham, Blackpool
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
Website bahchurch.com
History
Consecrated 1883
Architecture
Functional status Parish church
Designated Grade II listed
Administration
Diocese Blackburn
Archdeaconry Lancaster
Parish Bispham
Clergy
Rector The Revd Jonny Lee

Bispham Parish Church, also known as All Hallows Church, is a Church of England parish church located in Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, known as the Mother Church of Blackpool. [1]

Contents

The church is a Grade II Listed Building. It is the third church on the site and was built in 1883. [2]

Until 1821 the parish church of Bispham was the only place of worship in Blackpool. [2]

History

The earliest reference to the church dates from the reign of King Richard I, when Theobold Walter in 1189 passed on his rights to the churches of Poulton-le-Fylde and Bispham to St Mary's of Lancaster. Another reference in 1345, from the records of the Archdiocese of Richmond, tells of the lamentable state of disrepair of both the church of Poulton and the chapel of Bispham, implying that Bispham was a chapel annexed to the parish of Poulton.

In 1351, in the aftermath of the Black Death, the Archdeacon made a visit to ascertain whether the chapel had sufficient parishioners to make it viable as a place of worship, and also enquired of St Mary's of Lancaster by what right they held the claim to Bispham. The Archdeacon was evidently persuaded not to sell off the chapelery and its lands.

The first mention of Blackpool is found in the Register of Bispham Parish Church in 1602 in which is recorded the Christinary on 22 September of that year of a child belonging to a couple who reside on the bank of the Black Pool.

18th century records show that there existed a church of red sandstone, with a double-gable roof, supported by offal pillars, laid down in the centre of the nave. There was a separate chancel, black oak pews in the nave, with three lancet windows in the east end and a low tower at the west.

In 1773, the pillars were deemed unsafe and removed and the building heightened, but by the middle of the 19th century, the church was in danger of collapse, and in 1883 had to be demolished. A new church of limestone was built on the same site, and during the rebuilding, were discovered a Saxon piscina and a Norman sandstone arch, with chevron carvings, enclosing the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Supposedly, the emblems of Taurus, Cancer and Virgo were excavated, [3] that prompted the current Victorian carving that forms the Zodical frieze over the inner south doorway [4] which contains fragments of the Norman masonry. [2] The building has a five-bay nave, a chancel with transepts and a south-west tower, in a minimally Early English belf style.

Churchyard

The churchyard contains the tombs of many shipwreck victims, including the captain and crew of the brig Favourite, which sank off Blackpool in 1865, and passengers from the Ocean Monarch , which caught fire in the Irish Sea in 1848. Also commemorated in the churchyard is the actress Violet Carson, who lived in Bispham and who died in 1983 and gained fame between 1960 and 1980 for her portrayal of Ena Sharples in TV's Coronation Street .

Sundial

The sundial, located in the graveyard, on a one metre high stone shaft, is a Grade II Listed Building. It is said to be the base of a former cross. [5]

War Graves

The churchyard contains war graves of four service personnel of World War I and nine of World War II. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is the parish church of Grappenhall, in the Borough of Warrington in Cheshire, England. It is designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Kirkham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Michael's Church is in the town of Kirkham, Lancashire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Blackburn, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the deanery of Kirkham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Evangelist's Church, Gressingham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St John the Evangelist's Church is in the village of Gressingham, Lancashire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Tunstall, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is combined with those of St Margaret, Hornby, St John the Baptist, Arkholme, and St Michael the Archangel, Whittington-in-Lonsdale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Heysham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Peter's Church is in the village of Heysham, Lancashire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster Priory</span> Church in Lancashire, England

Lancaster Priory, formally the Priory Church of St Mary, is the Church of England parish church of the city of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It is located near Lancaster Castle and since 1953 has been designated a Grade I listed building. It is in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the Diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is combined with that of St John and St Anne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Mawdesley</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Peter's Church is in High Street in the village of Mawdesley, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's Church, Blackpool</span> Church in Lancashire, England

The parish church of Blackpool Saint John the Evangelist, or St John's Blackpool, is an Anglican church in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It was completed in 1878 and is a Grade II listed building. A church was built on the site in 1821 and was replaced by the current building to accommodate a larger congregation. The church was designed by Garlick, Park and Sykes in the Early English style and has been restored and renovated in 1986 and from 2000 to 2006. St John's is known as the parish church of Blackpool, and is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn which is within the ecclesiastical province of York. It is in the Archdeaconry of Lancaster and the Deanery of Blackpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Chad's Church, Poulton-le-Fylde</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Chad's Church is an Anglican church in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn and the archdeaconry of Lancaster. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. A church on the site was built no later than the 11th century and may have existed prior to the Norman conquest of England. The tower dates from the 17th century, and much of the remainder of the building from a major renovation in the 18th century, although some of the fabric of the original structure remains. Further renovation and additions took place in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Ribchester</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is an Anglican church in the village of Ribchester in Lancashire, England that is situated close to the site of a Roman fort. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary and All Saints, Whalley</span> Church in Lancashire, England

The Church of St Mary and All Saints is an Anglican church in the village of Whalley, Lancashire, England. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn. A church probably existed on the site in Anglo-Saxon times and the current building dates from the 13th century. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Thomas' Church, Garstang</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Thomas' Church is a Church of England church in Garstang, a market town in Lancashire, England. It is an active Church of England parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn and the archdeaconry of Lancaster. The church was built in 1770 as a chapel of ease to St Helen's Church in nearby Kirkland and was later assigned its own parish. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Wilfrid's Church, Halton-on-Lune</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is an Anglican church in Halton-on-Lune, a village in the English county of Lancashire. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn and the archdeaconry of Lancaster. Halton may have been the site of an ancient Anglo-Saxon minster. Of the current structure, the tower dates from the 16th century and the remainder was built 1876–77 by Paley and Austin. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James' Church, Brindle</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St James' Church is in the village of Brindle, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Luke's Church, Winmarleigh</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Luke's Church is in the village of Winmarleigh, Lancashire, England. It is an active Church of England parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the deanery of Lancaster and Morecambe. The church was built in 1875–1876 by Paley and Austin, and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James' Church, Altham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St James' Church is in the village of Altham, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Accrington, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice has been united with that of All Saints, Clayton-le-Moors. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Andrew's Church is 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. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Helen's Church, Overton</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Helen's Church, Overton, is located in Church Grove, Overton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Lancaster and Morecambe, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Aughton</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Michael's Church is in Church Lane, Aughton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Ormskirk, the archdeaconry of Wigan & West Lancashire, and the diocese of Liverpool. Its benefice is united with that of Holy Trinity, Bickerstaffe. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Hallows Church, Great Mitton</span> Church in Lancashire, England

All Hallows Church, Great Mitton, is in the village of Great Mitton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Whalley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the Diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St. John's Church, Hurst Green. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Thomas' Church, Preston</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Thomas' Church is in Lancaster Road, Preston, Lancashire, England. It has historically been an Anglican parish church, and now used by City Church Preston, an AOG GB church. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to Bispham Parish Church". Bispham Parish Church. Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 "Listed Buildings in Blackpool". Blackpool Civic Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  3. ↑ Swarbrick, James Hankinson. The history of Bispham Parish Church, "All Hallows" from its early foundation to the present time compiled from various sources.
  4. ↑ Pevsner, Hartwell. Lancashire: North.
  5. ↑ "Listed Buildings in Blackpool page 5". Blackpool Civic Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  6. ↑ CWGC Cemetery Report. Details obtained from casualty record.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.