The Chancel

St Cuthbert's Chancel

Work probably started on the chancel around 1345 and completed circa 1370 with a likely-hood that work was interrupted due to the Black Death at the end of the 1340s. This time span and the interruption to progress possible accounts for the mixture of styles found in the chancel.

The door to the vestry on the north side is still extant and it and the doorway are in the Decorated style, in contrast to the rest being in the later Perpendicular style. The door is still there today with all its original fixtures and its massive key for the lock. Being of sandstone, the doorstep shows very deep wear caused by successive generations using it.

The elaborate niche in the wall to the east of the vestry door and north of the altar probably held a statue of St Cuthbert. The original figure has been lost and the present one dates from the 1950s.

Extensive restoration work was carried out in the late 19th century saw the installation of the ancient (15th century) carved choir stalls. The choir stalls have their Misericord seats and have been supplemented by the oak stalls used by today's choir.

An organ was installed in 1873 in memory of Richard B H Benson Halsall, patron of Halsall. Originally this was hand blown but electrified later and was replaced with the present instrument in 1964.

More History

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The Old Grammar School