Historically, the township of Great Harwood was part of the ecclesiastical parish of Blackburn. There is mention of a parochial chapel of ease dedicated to St Lawrence at Great Harwood in sources from 1389.[1] A chantry to St Lawrence's was later formed by Thomas Hesketh of Martholme, and dedicated to St Bartholomew.[2] The dedication of the chapel was subsequently changed to St Bartholomew.[1]
The tower of the present building probably dates from the 15th century.[3] Most of the rest of the church appears to date from the 16th century and may have been rebuilt by Thomas Hesketh of Martholme, who made additions to his home at that time.[4] In 1880–81 the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin added a bay to the nave, a new chancel, a vestry, an organ chamber and a pulpit. The seating was increased from 377 to 470. These alterations cost £2,000 (equivalent to £250,000 in 2023).[5][6]
Architecture
Exterior
St Bartholomew's is built in the Perpendicular style in coursed rubble, with roofs of stone slate.[3] Its plan consists of a nave with a west tower, aisles and a chancel to the east. There is a porch to the south and a vestry to the north.[1] The tower has four stages and diagonal buttresses. There is a stair turret at the south east corner, and a crenellatedparapet.[4] There is a three-light west window under a pointed arch head, with a moulding. There are two-light belfrylouvres with moulding.[3]
The nave and aisles have three-light windows with stone mullions[3] In the south wall of the chancel there are two two-light windows. The east window has four lights and Perpendicular-style tracery.[1]
Interior and fittings
Internally, the tower measures 9 feet (2.7 m) by 10 feet (3.0 m).[1] The nave measures 66 feet 9 inches (20.3 m) by 15 feet 6 inches (4.7 m) and is accessed from the tower through a high arch with chamfered orders.[1]
The Lanterns in the main church were recently updated to LED by Electrical & Building Solutions with the assistance of Saturn Lighting Bolton, which has enabled a great energy saving and increase in the quality of artificial light in the space without changing the look or feel of the main hall.
St Bartholomew's was designated a Grade II* listed building on 11 July 1966.[3] The Grade II* designation is the second highest of the three grades of listed buildings.[8]
Abram, William Alexander (1877), A History of Blackburn, Town and Parish, J.G. & J. Toulmin, OCLC14163415
Brandwood, Geoff; Austin, Tim; Hughes, John; Price, James (2012), The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin, Swindon: English Heritage, ISBN978-1-84802-049-8
