St Wilfred’s, Melling

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St Wilfred's, Melling

St Wilfred’s, Melling

Where is it – England, North West England

Who looks after it –  Church authorities 

What is it –  Church, Free access 

When is it from – Medieval

A history of Melling Church states categorically that it and the parish was owned by Roger de Poitou by 1094, when he granted it to the monastery of Sees in Normandy. The history also says that part of a Saxon preaching cross is in the churchyard but that the first church was Norman. In the 13th century, Melling was granted to Roger de Montbegon of Hornby, in exchange for the parish of Gressingham. The Scots largely destroyed Melling and its church in 1322. The current building dates from the mid 14th century and the tower about 100 years later. It was much restored by Paley and Austin in the late 19th century, under the direction of the then vicar, William Grenside, a friend of John Ruskin’s. In the 1990s, the Morley Chapel, originally created by John Morley who fought at Agincourt in 1415, was restored. The church is packed with memorials and its fascinating history can be found on Melling’s excellent parish website.  The remains of Melling’s motte and bailey castle can be seen in the garden of the former vicarage, next door to the churchyard.

 


Address
Main Street, Melling, Lancashire LA6 2RA 

More detail from ABAB
Useful website
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