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St Saviour

St Saviour

Stydd

Lancashire

Church, late C12th with later alterations.

NORMANC12C13C14C17CARVINGSFONTPULPIT

Architectural Features

C13CARVINGS

At the west end, now within the porch, is a doorway of early C13th date having a 2-centred arch of 2 moulded orders, moulded imposts, and angle shafts with capitals which include some waterleaf carving.

C12

The north wall has 2 narrow chamfered lights, with hoods, probably C12th.

C17

The nave is divided from the sanctuary by a C17th screen of square panels surmounted by turned balusters.

PULPIT

At its southern end is an octagonal pulpit, also of square panels, raised on a stone base.

C14

Set into the stone flag floor are grave covers, including a C14th double sepulchral stone with 2 floriated crosses and inscriptions.

CARVINGS

Trusses 2 and 5, from the west, have tie beams, with carved central bosses.

It is roughly carved of dark gritstone by some country craftsman. The font is octagonal in shape; the carvings depict sacred and heraldic symbols and monograms: The sacred monogram: IHS (translated as 'Jesus, the Saviour of Men') The sacred heart, with the wounded hands and feet of Christ. The initials 'tP'(sic), perhaps for Thomas Pemberton, preceptor of the Knights Hospitallers at Newland, of which Stydd was a subsidiary, from 1535-1538; beneath the initials is a small quatrefoil. Although depicted more like a gambolling rabbit, there is what is intended to be a lion rampant - a common heraldic device belonging to a number of local families, including the Hothersalls, the Balderstones or the Talbots, any one of which might be featured here. The head of an animal (referred to in heraldry as a leopard), being the arms of the Clitheroe family of Salesbury. Another heraldic device: in chief (at the top of the shield) the Cross of St George, indicating the arms of a Knight Hospitaller, below the same quatrefoil device featured above, which might be the arms of Thomas Pemberton. A shield depicting three arrowheads between a chevron, charged with three stars, being the arms of Sir Thomas Newport of Shropshire, the preceptor of the Knights Hospitallers at Newland. He died in 1502 and was buried in the citadel of the Order at Rhodes, where his memorial bears the same arms as are depicted here. Another heraldic device, being five animals' heads (perhaps bulls); of unknown origin. All these factors point to the font being carved in the very early years of the sixteenth century. https://www.saintwilfrids.org.uk/st-saviour-s-at-stydd/
FONT

The early Cl6th sandstone font is octagonal, with its carving well preserved.

It is roughly carved of dark gritstone by some country craftsman. The font is octagonal in shape; the carvings depict sacred and heraldic symbols and monograms: The sacred monogram: IHS (translated as 'Jesus, the Saviour of Men') The sacred heart, with the wounded hands and feet of Christ. The initials 'tP'(sic), perhaps for Thomas Pemberton, preceptor of the Knights Hospitallers at Newland, of which Stydd was a subsidiary, from 1535-1538; beneath the initials is a small quatrefoil. Although depicted more like a gambolling rabbit, there is what is intended to be a lion rampant - a common heraldic device belonging to a number of local families, including the Hothersalls, the Balderstones or the Talbots, any one of which might be featured here. The head of an animal (referred to in heraldry as a leopard), being the arms of the Clitheroe family of Salesbury. Another heraldic device: in chief (at the top of the shield) the Cross of St George, indicating the arms of a Knight Hospitaller, below the same quatrefoil device featured above, which might be the arms of Thomas Pemberton. A shield depicting three arrowheads between a chevron, charged with three stars, being the arms of Sir Thomas Newport of Shropshire, the preceptor of the Knights Hospitallers at Newland. He died in 1502 and was buried in the citadel of the Order at Rhodes, where his memorial bears the same arms as are depicted here. Another heraldic device, being five animals' heads (perhaps bulls); of unknown origin. All these factors point to the font being carved in the very early years of the sixteenth century. https://www.saintwilfrids.org.uk/st-saviour-s-at-stydd/

© Brian Deegan