History
St Pauls ChurchLittle Marsden Nelson
1296 - The existence of a church is formally recorded in the Church of England Diocesan Directory as being from this date. It is also mentioned in the rent accounts of Henry De Lacy, Earl of Lincoln in September 1296.
However it is actually thought that a chantry chapel must have existed at Little Marsden at least forty years if not a hundred years before 1296. Little Marsden Chapel was then a Chapel of Ease under Colne and would receive the services of a Priest provided by the Abbot of Whalley.
1552 is the next date of note when by order of Edward VI Little Marsden’s silver gilt chalice weighing 6¼ oz was taken by his commissioners and sold.
The chapel in 1500 was described as ‘a small building with a low roof, thick walls of rough stone and canopied bell turret, inside the floor was of earth, the walls unplastered and only forms were used as seating accommodation. The sturdy farmers of Little Marsden sat on these forms with their legs enclosed in bundles of straw!’
Moving on to 1717 there was a sermon preached once a month and by 1809 this was once a fortnight. Money was not readily available for maintaining the church fabric. However there is a note that in 1703 the cost of ‘covering Marsden Chapel’ was 13 shillings and in 1726 it cost 1 shilling to ‘point the Chapel’, a new spade was bought for 3 shillings in 1708 a ‘rope for the bell cost 4 pence in 1726.
By 1800 the building was in a bad state of repair and was demolished.
By the 19th Century plans were under way to build a new church as the population in the Nelson area was on the increase. On April 21st 1803 an appeal was launched via the magistrates and the churchwardens for a collection to be made throughout the County. It was estimated that £398. 15s. would be needed. A sum of £300 was granted from the Government Church Building Fund. Work started on the new church which was completed in 1809. It was a rectangular building with its main entrance on the west wall. The tower, spire chancel and vestry were added later in the century. By 1811 St Paul’s had become the Parish Church of Little Marsden although it was not formally recognised until 1877. Rev John Hutchinson was appointed vicar in 1813 as he had been a curate there since the opening of the church. (See list of incumbents near the church door)
In 1871 the church was beautified so the chancel and vestry must have been complete by then. In 1872 a gas supply was installed. In 1873 the church was pointed at a cost of £10 and work started on the tower and spire which was completed in 1875. The enlargement of the vestry took place in 1881 and in 1890 it was decided to move the organ that had been in position at the west end of the church in the gallery. A new organ chamber was constructed and by 1892 the organ had been moved.
The Church Today
As you pass through the first door on entering the church you will notice on the left a staircase, this leads to the galleries and bell tower.
Inside the church to the left is the Churchwardens’ Pew with its little entrance door.
The Font
This was given to the church by Rev T.M. Jackson, vicar here from 1852 to 1864.
The Silver Ewer at the foot of the font was given in 1927 in memory of Edward Watson of Birchenlee
On the wall at the back of the font there were traces of an arch, showing the original position of the west door.
The Choir originally occupied two pews upstairs in the gallery at the West end of church. Before the first organ was installed a small band of cellists and clarinettists provided musical accompaniment for the choir. These musicians sat upstairs with the choir.
The decorative “poppy heads” on the ends of the present choir stalls were added in 1882.
The Organ Chamber was built in 1892 when the organ was moved from upstairs in the gallery at the back (West end) of church to its present position. The church has had three organs since the re-building in 1809.The present organ was built in 1900 by Messrs. Conacher & Co. of Huddersfield at a cost of £470.00.
The instrument is a three manual 25 pipe organ in undated casework. The stop arrangement is fairly standard, being made up of Diapason, Flutes and Bourdons with small (8 ft., 4 ft. and 2 ft.) decorative stops for embellishment. There are three couplers connecting the Swell to Pedal, Great & Choir ranks; two couplers connecting Choir to Great & Pedal and one coupler connecting Great to Pedal ranks. The organ was originally pumped by hand but later an electrical blower was installed.
The Stained Glass Window on the left was the work of Harry Stammers in 1966 and was given by Hannah Howarth in memory of her parents James and Catherine. James had been churchwarden in the early 20th century. The window shows God the Father, represented by the Hand; sending his spirit (the dove) upon the child who has been brought to baptism by his parents. As the parents begin to pray for the child, so the child begins to respond. Opening doors let in the sevenfold gift of the Spirit.
The Window on the Right completed in 1969, continues the theme of growth in spiritual knowledge represented by the traditional symbols of the gospel writers. At the base of the second light we see the young communicant at the altar rail with her parents. The large and impressive figure above has whatever precise meaning you care to give to him. He may be Saint Paul or a pilgrim or simply ‘the Christian Life’. The window was given by Ethel Dent in memory of her husband and is the work of craftsman Harry Harvey,
The East Window
This beautiful window is dedicated to ‘The Glory of God’ and is in memory of Horatio Bentley, M.A. Priest of the Parish from 1876- 1891. To the right of the Crucified Redeemer stands St John the Apostle, on the left is the Blessed Virgin Mary and at the foot of the cross kneels St Mary Magdalene.
The Mothers’ Union Banner
This was designed and embroidered by a group of ladies who were member of the MU in 1968. One side is beautifully embroidered representing the Annunciation, on the other side the pearls or jewels are symbols of the Virgin as the Jewel of Heaven.
The Sanctuary Above the archway leading to the sanctuary there used to be the text in gold lettering on a blue background
‘ O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness’.
The Altar Rail was the gift of the Mothers’ Union in 1928.
The Panels on either side of the altar were designed by Guy Barton and embroidered by Elsie Davison. The medallions on the tapestries depict four aspects of the life of St Paul, his conversion on the road to Damascus, his handling of the snake in Malta, his healing of a cripple at Lystra and the writing of his letters. Originally the four panels were painted and presented to the church by the father of the Rev H.J. Stevens who had been vicar from 1891 – 1898, they can still be seen when the embroidered panels are removed. They are of St Peter, St Paul, the Angel of Praise and the Angel of Worship.
The Bishop’s Chair is covered with tapestry by the same artists. It shows the insignia of the three dioceses – Chester, Manchester and Blackburn. On the arms of the chair - St Paul’s sword and the three fishes of Whalley.
The Tablet on the North Wall is in Memory to Rev J.W. Taylor Incumbent of Little Marsden for 12 years who died in 1876 aged 46 years. It is reported that he was a good musician with a splendid tenor voice. He sometimes took solos in the anthem. He was a good violinist and took a great interest in the choir.
The Lectern is given in Memory of Harold Throup (1923 – 1996) who had been Head Teacher at St Paul’s School for many years and a Lay Reader; it was designed by Mr D Warburton and made by ‘Mr Oak Rabbit Man’ of Wet Wang, Bridlington. It was blessed by Bishop Tom Stanage of Bloemfontein on the 6th October 1996.
The Bronze War Memorial Tablet was erected by the congregation of the church in 1920. There are gravestones in the graveyard of people killed in the first world war and can be easily identified because they are white in colour.
The South Wall The two light window to the right of the choir stalls was placed there in 1905 ‘ To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of George Landless. At rest 7th August 1901’. The window is the work of Seaward’s of Lancaster and shows St Mark & St Luke.
The Window in the Middle of the South Wall is the Edmondson Memorial Window and was made by Shrigley and Hunt also of Lancaster. It was installed in 1949 in memory of Elizabeth Edmondson 1875-1947 a devoted servant of the Church and the first enrolling member of the Mothers’ Union.
The Graveyard This was extended in 1902, 1934, and 1949. In 1914 Nelson Corporation wanted to widen Halifax Road and acquired 32 square yards of church land for £250 and agreed to construct a new boundary wall along Halifax Road. In the early 1990’s the Garden of Remembrance was made for the Burial of Ashes. The graveyard became Pendle Council’s responsibility in 1997 as the graveyard was then full and only burials in existing graves are allowed.
The Stocks
Unfortunately not much remains of these which it is believed date back to 1376, these stocks were a form of official punishment as late as 1863.
The Statue of our Lady and her Holy Child was given in memory of Donald Hamilton Kay who had been PCC Secretary 1960 – 1984.
Work commenced on The Bell Tower in 1873 and was completed in 1875 at a cost of £200. The bell was cast in 1873 by William Roberts & Son at their Phoenix Foundry in Nelson.
The Icon of Saint Paul is situated in the chancel on the left hand wall it was given in memory of Canon J.W. Lee vicar 1959 – 1992, one of the longest serving Priests.
Incumbents’ board containing a list of the present and past Vicars of the Parish can be found on the wall adjacent to the entrance. Since 1813 there have been 14 Priests.
