St Silas' Church

St Silas’ Church stands on Preston New Road in Blackburn, Lancashire. Built in the Gothic Revival style, it is made from yellow and red sandstone with slated roofs. The church has a nave flanked by north and south aisles, a west tower, and transepts housing an organ chamber and chapel. Designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin, work began in 1894 and the first phase was finished by 1898. The tower, added between 1913 and 1914, rises 32 metres and includes a porch but no spire. Before the church existed, services were held in a nearby Sunday school from 1846 and later in a school built in 1884–85. The church is notable for its Perpendicular Gothic details and high-church furnishings. Inside, the triple-chamfered tower arch leads into a spacious interior with double-chamfered chancel and transept arches. The octagonal font from 1896 and the square pulpit from the same year are carved with Gothic tracery. An Italian alabaster reredos installed in 1915 features statues and canopies. Stained glass includes windows by Morris & Co., J. H. Dearle, and Henry Holiday, depicting biblical scenes and Old Testament figures. Visitors find a quiet place of worship with fine architectural features. The tower’s pierced parapets and pinnacles rise above the town, while the porch holds a statue of Saint Silas. Large four-light windows line the aisles, and the chancel’s seven-light east window fills the space with light. The three-manual organ, altered over the years, and a ring of eight bells cast in 1888 add to the building’s musical heritage. The interior’s proportions and rich furnishings create an atmosphere of nobility and grandeur.