Church Of Holy Cross

Church of Holy Cross

This parish church in Bury stands as a significant example of medieval architecture, with building phases spanning from the 12th century through the 16th century and later restoration work.

The church retains the chancel arch and west doorway from the original 12th-century construction, now largely obscured by the west tower. The 13th century saw the addition of the west tower and north arcade, while the early 15th century brought major expansion with the north aisle, south wall of the nave, and chancel. To the west of the tower and adjoining it are the ruins of a 15th-century west chapel.

The mid-13th-century west tower is constructed of rubblestone with quoins of Barnack stone. It rises three stages beneath an embattled parapet with moulded string course. Gargoyles project from each corner except the north-east. Three-stage angle buttressing supports the structure, with moulded string courses between each stage. The ground floor was originally open-sided, with two centred arches of two orders, the inner resting on corbels. The corbels of the western arch are carved with stiff leaf foliage. The north, south, and west walls of the first stage each contain one tall lancet with chamfered inner moulding and moulded outer moulding, with moulded labels and mask stops. The east wall of the first stage retains marks of the gabled roof of the 12th-century nave. Each wall of the bell chamber contains two lancets with moulded labels and stops. The ruins of the north and south walls of the fifteenth-century west chapel adjoin the west tower, built of rubblestone with Barnack ashlar, and retain two niches in the east wall.

The nave is constructed of rubblestone with a roof featuring a parapet and two gargoyles on the south side. The 15th-century clerestory on each side contains three windows of two cinquefoil lights in square heads beneath segmental headed arches, with string course at sill height. The south wall contains two 15th-century windows of three lights with ogee heads and vertical tracery in four-centred heads with moulded labels and returned stops. A 13th-century south doorway has been reset, featuring chamfered jambs and three moulded orders in a two-centred head. A 19th-century gabled porch has been added.

The early 15th-century north aisle contains three windows of two cinquefoil lights in square heads beneath segmental headed arches, with one similar window in the east wall. A 14th-century north doorway features chamfered jambs and a two-centred arch with moulded label and returned stops.

The early 15th-century chancel was shortened in the 16th century when the east wall was rebuilt. The wall is rubblestone with one cinquefoil light window on the north side (restored) in a four-centred head with transome forming a low side, and with its original oak shutter surviving. The 16th-century east wall is constructed of coursed Barnack stone with a 19th-century three-light window in a two-centred head. The south wall contains one similar window with low side and shutter, and one 15th-century window of two cinquefoil lights with quatrefoil spandrel in a four-centred head. A 15th-century doorway has chamfered jambs and four-centred head with moulded label.

The interior preserves substantial medieval features. The 12th-century chancel arch is semicircular-headed with two orders on its west face. The soffit carries two broad rolls supported on two half-round shafts with moulded bases, chamfered and grooved abaci, and capitals carved with basket ornament; the inner capital has been partially carved away for a screen. The outer order has a free shaft with moulded base and cushion capital. A 15th-century screen of five bays, including a doorway, divides the space; some closed lower panels have been restored. The 12th-century west doorway comprises three orders—two outer roll-moulded and round, the inner plain with lintel and sealed tympanum. The chamfered label bears diaper ornament, and jambs carry two free shafts with moulded bases, chamfered and grooved abaci, and cushion or scalloped capitals with concentric ring ornament. The early 13th-century north arcade contains three bays with two-centred arches of one hollow chamfered order springing from three moulded corbels at each end. Two octagonal columns feature moulded bases, square plinths, and moulded capitals decorated with stiff leaf foliage and square abaci. A 19th-century roof spans the interior. A late 12th-century font of stone, originally square with angle cut off, retains a round stem with necking and base. A fine 14th-century lectern survives. Seventeen 15th- and 16th-century pews with square ends remain in the church.