St James the Less, Rawtenstall
St James the Less, Rawtenstall
St James the Less is a Grade II Roman Catholic church of 1845 on Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire, in the Diocese of Salford.
- Location
- Rawtenstall, Lancashire
- Country
- England
- County
- Lancashire
- City / town
- Rawtenstall
- Address
- Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire, BB4 8HH
- Postcode
- BB4 8HH
- Built
- Opened 24 September 1845; west gable and tower porch rebuilt 1881
- Consecrated
- Opened and dedicated 24 September 1845
- Architect
- Charles Francis Hansom; masons J and H Ingham
- Denomination
- Catholic Church
- Dedication
- James the Less
- Diocese
- Salford
- Parish
- St James the Less, Rawtenstall
- Grade
- II
- Style
- Early English Gothic Revival
- Materials
- Sandstone random rubble with steeply pitched slate roof
- Grid reference
- SD 810 235
- Opening hours
- Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church.
Overview
Historic England lists a small Early English church of sandstone random rubble under a steeply pitched slate roof: nave, a small north-west tower with pyramidal top, and chancel with side offices. The three-stage tower incorporates a gabled porch with a moulded arched doorway, shafts, figured hood-mould stops and a statue niche. The west gable has a large triple lancet flanked by single lancets and a wheel window above. The five-bay nave has lancets and a south porch; the two-bay chancel has a triple-lancet east window and a circular window of three trefoils. The list entry attributes the design to A. W. N. Pugin.
Taking Stock, citing The Tablet and the Annual Catholic Register, attributes the church to Charles Francis Hansom, built for a mission begun at Sunnyside in 1836 on land obtained from Mrs Ashworth in 1842. The church was opened and dedicated on 24 September 1845 by Dr Sharples, coadjutor to the Vicar Apostolic of the Lancashire District, at a cost of 1,500 pounds. The west gable was substantially rebuilt and the tower porch added in 1881. The five-bay nave has an open arch-braced king-post roof. A 1990s restoration by Flood and Wilson installed gold Brazilian granite furnishings and a dalle de verre Assumption window by the monks of Buckfast Abbey. Bishop Kelly dedicated the new altar on 9 April 1995.