St Helen's Church, Churchtown

St Helen's Church is a Grade I listed parish church in Churchtown that features a six-stage tower with angled buttresses, a crenellated parapet, and a northeast turret with a spire. The interior showcases Norman pillars in the north aisle, indicating structural expansions made across different periods.

The church's foundations date to 1180, with Norman pillars marking the original structure that was built over an earlier Saxon building. Subsequent expansions reshaped the building into the form visible today.

Medieval and Stuart wall paintings adorn the interior, discovered in 1971 beneath layers of plaster, displaying Bible quotations within decorative frames. These artistic works offer a window into the spiritual expression of earlier centuries.

The church is easy to access and contains a complete ring of six bells cast in 1828 by Thomas Mears at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Visitors should check opening times beforehand, as the parish maintains regular worship services throughout the year.

The choir stalls feature medieval misericords carved with human heads and mythical creatures, including an unusual carving of an elephant carrying a castle. These rare carvings reveal the skilled craftsmanship and imaginative details of medieval artisans.

Location: Kirkland

Inception: 1220

GPS coordinates: 53.87880,-2.79000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:48