Historic church to reinstate original designs

A historic Lancashire church is planning to reinstate aspects of its original 1854 design that were undone by an overhaul more than 50 years ago.

The rector of St Walburge's, Canon Gwenael Cristofoli, believes restoring the sanctuary area will make the church in Ashton-on-Ribble be more in keeping with the traditional Latin Masses that are still celebrated there.

The landmark Pedder Street building, famed for having the tallest spire of any parish church in England, was "reordered" in 1972 as part of moves to modernise the Catholic Church.

The changes saw the introduction of a raised platform, upon which a second altar was installed.

It was a shift designed to better connect the congregation and the priest, who previously had his back to worshippers so that he could face the high altar.

Now though, the Grade I-listed church - which opened in 1854 and is open for heritage tours every Saturday - plans to revert to a configuration last seen more than half a century ago.

The restoration will see the dismantling of the second nave altar, which incorporated some aspects of the sanctuary rail that was removed in 1972. The rest of it has been kept in storage.

That will now be reconstructed and put back in its previous place, along with eight pews which were also taken out as part of the previous revamp.

It is believed the installation of the platform will have either required the removal of the tiles that would have lain beneath it or significantly damaged them.

The church plans to replicate the decorative flooring so that it matches what is in front of the platform.

Planning permission is not required for any of the changes, which will not involve any alterations to the exterior of the building.

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