Church of St. Walburge, Preston
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| St Walburge's Church | |
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  Shown within Lancashire
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| Basic information | |
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| Location | Preston, Lancashire, England |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Hansom |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Year completed | 1854 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 165 feet (50 m) |
| Width | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Spire height | 309 feet (94 m) |
| Materials | Sandstone body, slate roof Limestone steeple |
St Walburge's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Preston, Lancashire, England. It is dedicated to Saint Walpurga and is a Grade I listed building.[1]
It is one of the tallest buildings of any type in Lancashire, with a steeple or spire of 309 feet (94 m). It is the fifth-tallest church in the United Kingdom, after Salisbury Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral and Norwich Cathedral, and therefore the tallest church that is not a cathedral.
The steeple is constructed from limestone sleepers which originally carried the nearby Preston and Longridge Railway, giving the spire a red tint during sunset. The steeple was the last to be worked upon by steeplejack and TV personality Fred Dibnah.
The architect was Joseph Hansom. Work began on the construction of the church in May 1850, and it was completed for an opening ceremony on August 3, 1854.
The church resembles a cathedral and holds a commanding position over Preston city. The tower contains a single bell of 30 Cwt (1.5 Tonnes) cast by Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel. This is thought to be the heaviest swinging bell in Lancashire.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Images of England: Church of St Walburge, Preston. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
