Church Of The Good Shepherd

The Church of the Good Shepherd is a church of 1892, designed by Temple Moore in the Decorated style, characterised by flowing tracery. It was built of stone rubble with a pantiled roof and partially timber-framed porch. The church has an unusual double 3-bay nave with a central bellcote, a 2-bay chancel flanked by a Lady Chapel to the north-east and an organ chamber to the south-west, and a west porch flanked by two rooms, one a vestry. The west front features two gables, each with a single window; the left-hand window has trefoil-headed arches, and the right-hand window is cinquefoil headed. A single-storey porch spans the whole width of the front, containing two 3-light casements and a central gabled wooden and rendered section with the inscription “The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”. It has a cambered doorcase with plank doors and flanking side lights. The north side of the nave has two double cinquefoil-headed windows, while the south nave has two double trefoil-headed windows, all supported by buttresses.

Inside, the vestibule beneath the west porch has central half-round columns with wooden panelled doors leading to the naves, further doors to the clergy vestry and another room, and quarter-circle corner seats. The space boasts good iron handles and a stone floor. The naves are divided by three stone arches with mouldings that die into diagonally placed square piers with chamfered angles. The penultimate pair of arches to the west incorporates an octagonal stone font with quatrefoil motifs. The roofs are of crownpost type, with ribbed ceilings featuring square carved and boarded soffits. There is an octagonal carved wooden pulpit on a stone base, and a carved wooden eagle lectern. The church includes good stained glass windows, including a panel depicting soldiers from the First World War. The chancel has two tall chancel arches with dying mouldings and a rectangular light above, and arches leading to the Lady Chapel and organ loft. A large west window, with flowing tracery and stained glass, depicts Christ as the Good Shepherd, flanked by David as a Shepherd boy and king. Good wooden panelling is present in the sanctuary, choir stalls and organ chamber.