Church Of The English Martyrs

PRESTON

SD53SW GARSTANG ROAD 941-1/1/143 (East side) 02/09/85 Church of the English Martyrs

GV II

Roman Catholic church. 1863-7, by Edward Welby Pugin, enlarged 1888 by the same architect. Rock-faced sandstone, slate roof. Nave with north and south aisles, coupled north and south transepts with chapels on east sides, 5-sided apsidal chancel. Gothic style. The elaborate gabled west front is distinguished by 3 very prominent pinnacled turrets, one corbelled off the apex and enriched with statues in niches etc., and the others carried up from buttressed octagonal corners, enriched with blind arcading; and by a very large 2-centred arched 8-light window with multifoiled circular tracery. Beneath the window is a tripartite porch (of 1888) with crocketed gabled centre containing a moulded arched doorway and flanked by corbelled statues, and a similar north doorway. The 6-bay nave and aisles, by contrast, are very simply treated: the aisles have attenuated arched 2-light windows with plate tracery, and the nave has a clerestory of 18 small lancets. The coupled transepts, projected from the aisles and the same height, have tall 3-light traceried windows; their chapels have windows with geometric tracery; and the chancel has coupled 2-light windows. INTERIOR: 7-bay aisle and 2-bay transept arcades, of tall columns with heavily-foliated carved caps (all different), carrying moulded 2-centred arches with hoodmoulds which have festoons at the springing; wagon roof; projected west gallery (now with enclosed baptistry beneath); aisles with transverse arches and side arches; arcaded transepts with coupled and triple corbelled wall shafts; elaborate sanctuary dado with statues of saints and martyrs, and canopied reredos.

Listing NGR: SD5367730545