Roman Catholic Church Of St Mary

SD 51 NE CHORLEY MARKET STREET

5/56 Roman Catholic Church of St.Mary - GV II

Church, 1853-4, by Joseph A. Hansom, with north-east tower 1894 by Pugin and Pugin, apparently enlarged in early C20. Sandstone, with slate roof. Nave (now embraced by flat-roofed aisles and long pitched-roof porch at west end) with transepts and 3-sided apse. Most windows of nave and transepts are of 2 cusped lights with a quatrefoil in the head, but west window is 3 lights with elongated trefoil tracery, and north transept has a large 5-light window with unusual slim Perpendicular tracery containing elongated trefoils; apse has 3 groups of 3 small cusped lancets. Four- stage tower attached in north-east angle has angle buttresses, diagonal stair turret at north east corner which is polygonal in the upper half and topped by a large pinnacle; in east side at 2nd level is an ornate niche with traceried canopy continued as a demi-spire in the wall above; belfry has 3-light openings with Perpendicular tracery; traceried parapet, pinnacles. Interior nave has broad piers and depressed arches giving onto aisles, no transept or chancel arch, but side chapels flanking sanctuary have moulded 2-centred arches opening into transepts and sanctuary; nave has ribbed wagon roof supported by hammerbeams and struts, sanctuary roof has cusped braces and ribs.

Listing NGR: SD5823617513