St John the Evangelist
Calder Vale, Lancashire
A small, picturesque and much loved early 19th century church, situated above the village of Calder Vale, Lancashire, in beautiful woodland countryside.
Originally a chapel of ease to Blackburn parish church. For more than 450 years, there has been a place of worship on this site. It has never stood still. The story of St James is not one long stretch of calm survival. It is a story of wear, worry, rebuilding and starting again. Each time the building weakened, the community had to decide whether it was worth saving.
Significant phases in the life of St James include, enforced repair in 1692, rebuilding of the chapel in 1722-23, and Victorian repair and expansion between 1851-1853. In 1937, during the inter-war years, a comprehensive reconstruction programme was chosen over piecemeal repair to address the dry rot. At every phase of reconstruction and repair the community have rallied in support, and each time it has transformed to reflect the current community.
Architectural details: altered and enlarged 1937-40 by Sidney Eaton (Pevsner). Ashlar with stone gable copings and some finials, slate roof with ventilator on the ridge. Simple rectangular 4-bay plan (with modern chancel, vestry (etc.) added at right angles at east end). Renaissance style, with some Gothic details. Low plinth with string course; side walls have Doric pilasters between the bays and coupled at the corners, simple entablature with plain frieze and moulded cornice (originally bearing flaming urn finials over all pilasters, only those at the west end and east gable now remaining), and in each bay a large round-headed window with keystone and three lights with trefoil-headed tracery. Entrance (originally in south side, replaced by window) removed c,1878 to centre of west end wall. This has Doric demicolumns flanking the doorway above which the centre portion of the gable breaks forwards slightly up to a modern bellcote on the apex, the centre and each side having large square-headed five light windows with trefoil-headed tracery. The addition at the east end has a hipped roof with a chimney and semicircular apse with domed copper roof but is otherwise of matching style and materials. Interior: entirely modernised; one late C18 memorial tablet on north wall. History: built on site of 16th century chapel which had become dilapidated as a result of late 17th century dispute over ownership between Vicar of Blackburn and local Nonconformist congregation who built Lower Chapel (qv) in 1719. Damaged by mining subsidence 1851.
(References: WA Abram, History of Blackburn, 1877; JG Shaw, Darwen and its People, 1889).