Church Of All Saints

PRESTON

SD5329NE ELIZABETH STREET 941-1/9/99 (South side) Church of All Saints

II

Church. 1846-8; chancel added 1863; altered in later C19. Sandstone ashlar facade, otherwise red brick in 3+1 English garden wall bond, with sandstone dressings and slate roof. Rectangular plan on north-south axis, with added 5-sided apsidal chancel at south end. Classical style. Gable to street. The facade, in the form of a 3-bay pedimented portico (on 2 steps), has 6 giant Ionic columns, those flanking the centre in pairs, with entablature, dentilled cornice and pediment; under the portico, 3 doorways with moulded architraves, that in the centre with a dentilled pediment on consoles and those at the sides shouldered, all with panelled double doors, and at 1st-floor level a raised geometrical panel above each doorway; and on the ridge of the roof, set back slightly, a rectangular enclosed wooden bellcote with an open pediment. The 6-bay brick side walls have high sandstone ashlar plinths, brick pilasters with sandstone bases and caps, sandstone ashlar corner pilasters, and continuous entablatures carried round from the front; and in each bay a giant round-headed window with stone imposts and keystone, containing late C19 joinery with round-headed lights to each floor. The added chancel has windows of 2 round-headed lights with sandstone surrounds under semi-sircular arches of brick with blue headers, and a Lombard frieze with some blue brick. (Additions on each side of chancel). INTERIOR: resembles Methodist chapels of the earlier C19: a gallery on 3 sides (canted at the corners) carried on iron columns with foliated caps, with panelled front and raked seating; and box pews with original doors and numbering. Added chancel has stilted arch with semi-columns which have composite capitals, and elaborate moulded plaster above; and organ house on west side. History: founded by the initiative of working men who were anxious to bring back to Preston a former curate of St James's church (Rev.W.Walling) and began a public subscription to build a church for him; consequently known as "the Working Man's Church" or "the Poor man's Church". Anglican, but distinct from Establishment churches of the town both architecturally and socially, having a continuous evengelical history.

Listing NGR: SD5388529877