St Hilda's Church, Bilsborrow

St Hilda’s Church stands in the quiet village of Bilsborrow, Lancashire, beside Bilsborrow Lane. It is an active Anglican parish church, part of the Fellside Team Ministry which also includes five other local churches. The building was designed by Henry Paley of the Lancaster firm Austin and Paley and completed in 1927. The foundation stone was laid by William Temple, then Bishop of Manchester and later Archbishop of Canterbury. The church is built of stone with a slate roof and follows the Free Perpendicular style. The church is worth visiting for its fine architectural details and craftsmanship. Inside, the pulpit is adorned with carved vines, and the stained glass includes two windows by Shrigley and Hunt from the 1960s or 1970s. The two-manual pipe organ was built in 1938 by Wilkinson of Kendal. A ring of eight bells, all cast in 1949, hangs in the low tower at the crossing. The tower also has a stair turret at its southeast corner with inscribed texts above the bell openings. Visitors find a calm interior with simple furnishings and clear lines. The crossing tower allows light to enter through the bell openings, illuminating the space below. The organ and bells remain in regular use, adding to the church’s living tradition. The surrounding village offers a peaceful setting, with Bilsborrow Lane leading gently up to the churchyard gate.