Church Of St Margaret

The Church of St Margaret is a church with a west tower built in 1514 by Sir Edward Stanley, Lord Monteagle. The chancel was incomplete at his death in 1524, the nave was rebuilt in 1817, and the arcades and clerestory were added in 1889 by Paley and Austin. The church is constructed of sandstone ashlar and comprises a west tower, nave and chancel under a continuous roof with clerestory, and north and south aisles.

The tower is octagonal in plan and has three stages; the two upper stages are set diagonally to the base. It features an embattled parapet with pinnacles and bell openings with mullions, transoms, Tudor-arched heads with hoods, a string with corner gargoyles, and a plaque carved with the Mounteagle arms. The west window has three round-headed lights under a pointed head with Perpendicular tracery, above which is a panel inscribed: 'E. Stanley : miles : dnu : Montegle . me fieri fecit.' The west doorway is chamfered in two orders and has a pointed head with a hood. The nave and aisles have embattled parapets. The south aisle has three bays separated by buttresses, with 2-light windows with straight-sided Tudor heads and a chamfered doorway. The clerestorey windows are of 3 lights under a pointed head with Perpendicular tracery. The north side is treated similarly. At the east end is a semi-octagonal apse. The north and south sides, and each canted side, have cross windows with Tudor-arched heads, Perpendicular tracery, and ogee hoods with head stops and floriated finials. The east window has a round head, three cinquefoiled upper lights, and three Tudor-arched lower lights.

Inside the church, the 5-bay nave arcades have moulded pointed arches and piers chamfered in two orders. The roof is boarded, of shallow pitch with tie beams but no principals. The pews, carved choir stalls, and communion rails appear to date from the 1889 restoration. In the south aisle is a memorial tablet by Hardman to Dr. John Lingard, historian and Catholic priest of Hornby 1811-51.