Looking back at Rivington Church
29 May 2014 09:48
Published by:
Dave Fletcher
From the Horwich Advertiser of March 2003
Local Heritage with Martin Brownlow
There is no mention of Rivington church in the Doomsday survey 1086. The foundation of the church is lost in antiquity.
In a deed dated around 1280, Cicely Worsley daughter of William de Roynton, mentions three acres of "tenna ecclesiastica", this could be land on which stood a small chapel used by the de Roynton family, or simply three acres of church land, on which a rent was paid, to a church locally which may be either Bolton or Deane?
Again in 1476 Margriet Pilkington held a tenement called Chapel Croft, which is again mentioned at the death of Ralph Pilkington in 1478.
Few references survive before 1541, when Richard Pilkington then Lord of the manor, and resident at Rivington Hall rebuilt the church.
The fact that it is stated he rebuilt the church suggests, there was some sort of building being replaced, on the site of the present church.
In October 1541 Bishop Bird of Chester consecrated the newly built church at the insistence of Richard Pilkington.
At this time the church was a simple rectangular building with a north and a south alleyway down each side.
The two Shaw memorial tablets on the north wall gave a clear indication that burials took place inside the church around 1650.
In 1674 a dispute arose as to burial sites in the south alley between the Levers and the
Shaws.
The Chancel was added in 1666 and during the early 1920's the chancel was re-panelled, and a new floor laid.
During this work, the remains of two body's were uncovered, thought to be the
Rev Sam Newton and his wife - they remain undisturbed .
Richard Pilkington and his wife being buried just before the chancel step. This was the site of the communion table before the chancel was added.
The Pilkington picture was an alter piece, to their memory, but no trace of the grave can now be seen.
The oldest gravestone is dated 1616 and has the initials W.B.
The oak screen between chancel and church came to Rivington from the chapel at Lostock Hall near Bolton, the home of the Anderton family.
This hall was demolished in the early years of the 19th century, the exact date it came to Rivington is not known.
In 1617 Thomas Breeres leaves by will 40/- shillings yearly for a preacher (around
£2 today). And in 1620 Robert Lever of Darcy Lever and Rivington bequeaths 40/- shillings to the wages of a preacher forever.
When John Shaw died in 1627 he left 10/- shillings (50p) yearly for church repairs and 20 nobles yearly to the poor thereby founding the Shaw's charity and educational endowment.
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