Church Of St Edward

The Church of St Edward is a parish church built between 1900 and 1902, designed by Goodwin S Packer of Southport and funded by Edward G Lancaster of Keresforth Hall. It is constructed in the Gothic Revival style using coursed dressed stone with ashlar bands and dressings, and features Vellenhellie slates with ashlar coped gables, kneelers, and finials. The church has a chamfered plinth and a west end with outer and inner buttresses flanking a five-light pointed arch window with reticulated tracery. The nave includes five pairs of two-light Y-tracery pointed arch clerestory windows with linked hoods and buttresses in between, while the aisles have four pairs of lancets with linked hoods and buttresses. There are gabled porches on both sides of the west end, each with pointed triple arch doorways and double plank doors featuring ornate hinges. The transepts each have two tall lancet windows with Y-tracery and buttresses between them. The crossing tower has three lancet bell openings on each face, small gabled buttresses between, and an open arcaded parapet. Corner buttresses rise to form small corner towers topped with pyramidal ashlar roofs. The central roof is pyramidal with a slate covering, leaded cap, and cross finial. The chancel features single two-light pointed arch side windows and a five-light east window with reticulated tracery, flanked by tall deep buttresses.

Inside, the church has five bay pointed arched nave arcades supported by polished marble columns and boarded roofs with exposed roof trusses. The east wall is lined with English alabaster and features a triple arched alabaster reredos made by Harry Hems & Sons of Exeter. It retains its original wooden pews and choir stalls. A finely carved octagonal alabaster pulpit, supported by four polished marble columns, and a similar octagonal alabaster font, both carved by Norbury Patterson & Co, are notable features. The church also contains high-quality contemporary stained glass windows throughout. The foundation stone was laid on 5th October 1900, and the church was dedicated on 13th November 1902.