St Johns Church Langcliffe

The Church of St. John the Evangelist

The view from the Village Green

The Church entrance

Like its three sister churches of Settle, Rathmell and Stainforth, Langcliffe church, dedicated to St John the Evangelist, was created out of the ancient parish of Giggleswick. They were part of the mid-nineteenth century period of church building, and were all built between 1836 and 1851. Langcliffe is the youngest of the daughter churches, built on the site of the old tannery by money donated by John Green Paley of Harrogate, whose family had been connected with Langcliffe for more than three centuries, and with Giggleswick twice as long, and aided by a grant from the Ripon Diocesan Church Building Society. It had its foundation stone laid on the 27th December 1850, and the building was consecrated by the Bishop of Ripon, Dr Longley, on the 29th September 1851. Standing at the apex of the picturesque village green, it provides a pleasant backdrop to the village.

It is a single aisled building in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture and comprises nave and porch, chancel and sanctuary, with a vestry off the chancel, and another off the nave, both on the north side of the building, which is built of stone, and its roof covered in grey slate. It is believed that the village of Langcliffe in Norman times stood a little to the north of its present site, in a field on the left of the lane leading to the old quarry and Winskill. The parish as we know it today had its roots in the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th century. The mill dates from 1770, and the terraced cottages dating from around the same time provided accommodation for the mill operatives and their families; the operatives having direct access to the mill through Low Fold, and down the narrow walled footpath, crossing over the Settle to Carlisle railway line by footbridge. The nation's increase in population motivated action in the middle of the 19th century. It was known as the "Oxford Movement", whose leaders were people like Keble, Pusey, and Newman. This together with the suppression of the Irish Bishoprics, and the Acts 1 and 2 Victoria, led to forbidding the holding of livings in plurality by the clergy. This all contributed to increased religious activity throughout the land, and created a greater awareness by the Church of England of its responsibilities to the people.

Stained Glass:

Much religious symbolism and religious teaching is contained in our stained glass; it replaces wall paintings which would have decorated all our ancient churches like Giggleswick and Horton-in-Ribblesdale at one time, and spoke to the majority of the parishioners who were illiterate. Stained glass has been around now for nearly a thousand years. It is almost certain that the earliest examples of stained glass were purely decorative, but they were soon telling the stories of Jesus, his mother and saints, as well as depicting many other biblical scenes. The stained glass in Langcliffe Church is no different; it is all either 19th or 20th century glass, and came from two London firms, Lavers, Barrant and West, and Powell's.

The East Window has three lights: the left light, The Adoration of the Magi; the centre light, The Descent from the Cross; and the right-hand light, The Ascension. This window, and the two windows at the west end (filled with floral and geometric patterns), were given by Mrs and Miss Paley of London.

On the north side of the sanctuary, the window represents The Appearance of the Angel at the Sepulchre to the Women, with the words, "He is not here. He is risen." Above is the figure of Our Lord in Glory. The Window bears the inscription Maria Burrows Stackhouse. Obit 4th September 1872, Aetat 26.

The window on the south side of the sanctuary contains a picture of the raising of Jairus's daughter with the inscription, "The maid is not dead, but sleepeth." It bears the dedication: 'To the glory of God, and in memory of Mary Elizabeth Christie who died 6th July 1869, aged 16 years'. Her mother, who bore the same name, wife of Lorenzo Christie, died the previous year on 14th May, aged 37 years, is commemorated in the next window on the south side of the chancel; the window depicts Saint Maria in the left light and Saint Joannes in the right. Above them are fragments of Christ on the Cross, but the central figure of Christ is missing. Within seven years of the Christie's arriving in Langcliffe, (when they brought people from north, south, east and west to work at the mill), they were struck by death. As a result, the father, Lorenzo Christie soon handed over the reigns to his son Hector, who did much to build up the community spirit in Langcliffe, also the neighbouring area. He was chairman of the committee which closed Giggleswick Church for a complete restoration. In 1906 he was responsible for building the organ here at St John's.

Only one window on the south wall of the nave is filled with stained glass, it is the two light window nearest the lectern. The left light depicts the Nativity of Our Lord; the right, Christ holding a stave and the young John the Baptist dressed in camel hair clothing, with the wording, "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. "The Latin inscription reads, "Desideratissimis Frates Superstites." Its dedication reads,

" To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Mary Kathleen Phillimore (only daughter of George Robinson of Overdale, Skipton-in-Craven, and wife of Commander V.E.B. Phillimore DSO, RN. Born 3rd November 1875), and of Francis Bertram Robinson (third son of George Robinson of Overdale, Skipton-in-Craven. Born 13th March 1880. Died at the Harbour Works at Para Brazil 28th September 1910)"

This window was dedicated by their surviving brothers. There are two windows on the north side of the nave, each with two lights. The window nearest the west-end of the church portrays in its left-hand light, the Baptism of Our Lord, and in the right, Christ is calling the children, with the inscription, "Suffer the children to come unto me."

Above the two lights are the words "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." The window nearest the pulpit depicts the appearance of Our Lord to St Mary Magdelene, with the words, "Mary Rabboni." Its dedication, "To the Glory of God and in memory of Travers McIntire, Vicar of this parish from 1864 to 1879. Died 5th September 1912; also his wife Sarah Anne. Died 24th June 1913.

The two windows in the west wall are filled with floral and geometric patterns.

In the sanctuary, the carved oak reredos has five canopies, the two left-hand panels contain "The Creed" and "The Lord's Prayer", the two right-hand panels, "The Ten Commandments"; all are framed in oak. The sanctuary furniture comprises two Sanctuary Chairs, Communion and Credence Tables, two Coffin Stools, and Altar Rail; all made of oak, as are the Choir Stalls and Priest's Stall. The oak lectern, carved as an eagle, (signifying the word of God flying closest to the Kingdom of Heaven), stands at the chancel steps; the chancel arch bears the words,

"Let all the people praise thee 0 God, let all the people praise thee."

The organ, on the north side of the chancel was erected in 1906. It has two manuals, cased in oak, and built by J.J. Binns of Leeds. Dedicated in 1906 by the Bishop of Ripon.

The pulpit, with three arcades in stone, is handsomely carved with diaper work. Standing to the west of the south door is the grey stone font with oak canopy, it is octagonal and bears the four emblems of the Gospels; the winged man for Matthew, the winged lion for Mark, the winged ox for Luke, and the eagle for John. The inscription above the base reads,

"Aede quinta Parochia instructa Vicarius de Giggleswick Deo Gratias 1851"

The words "aede quinta" alluding to the fact that this church makes the fifth house of prayer in Giggleswick. The church has an open timbered roof and two bells in the turret, which are open to the elements.

The painting on the north wall (much in need of restoration) is painted in oils; it is a copy of the central panel of a triptych by the artist Pietro Perugino (1446-1524), which hangs in the National Gallery, London. It was placed there in memory of Jane Elizabeth Dawson. Born 1925, died in Amman 1954. Younger daughter of Geoffrey and Cecilia Dawson. There are two mural monuments on the south wall, one to Geoffrey Dawson, editor of The Times for twenty five years, and his wife Margaret Cecilia. The other is to Margaret Jane Dawson and her sister Katherine Elizabeth Perfect. A simple plaque, also on the south wall, reads, Annie Bradley, 1902-1988, benefactress of this church.

The Priest's Board, which hangs on the north wall near the vestry door, lists the fifteen priests who have served this parish from 1851 to the present day. The Churchyard, much enhanced by the many beautiful trees that have lived and matured there over the years, gives a fine setting for the church, which like the building itself offers parishioners and visitors alike peace and tranquillity, as well as the opportunity for private prayer. At the rear of the church, on the north side, is a War Grave of the First World War, and at the east end of the building is the grave of John Green Paley, the benefactor of the church.

Val Leigh