St Peter & St Paul

Bardwell church dates from the late 1300s. The tower and porch are from the same period but the chancel was almost completely rebuilt and its floor lowered in 1853. As is often the case, particular care was lavished on the construction of the porch, which has fine flintwork, niches with carved figures and coats of arms of the de Berdewell and de Pakenham families.

Externally, the church is dominated by its tower surmounted by a small spire and weathervane, overall over 100 feet high. The tower houses the disused medieval oak bell frame, the new steel bell frame (2009) which houses 8 bells, and the clock dating from the 17th century.

The lofty nave has a central aisle with 19th century pews either side, graced with 100 kneelers colourfully embroidered in the 1970s, each one with a unique Bardwell related design. Most of the leaded nave windows have clear glass, but the four nearest to the chancel have stained glass: the pair on the north side is medieval and of particular significance, one depicting the church’s great benefactor, Sir William de Berdewell (1367-1434), whereas the pair on the south side, together with those in the chancel, date from the 19th century.

On the walls can be seen two partial wall paintings, and five consecration crosses. However, in addition, five medieval wall paintings were covered up with distemper in the 19th century. Their designs can be seen in Bury Record Office. However, the nave’s principal attraction is its magnificent hammer beam roof. with original decorative paintwork. Sadly, only four of the figures originally fitted to the ends of the hammer beams remain (one of them giving the assumed precise date of the roof) of 1421, but there are 29 carved and painted bosses which are of similar merit, as well as an incomplete set of painted shields mounted between the carved wall plates and the roof.

The chancel has some interesting Crofts Reade memorials from 17th century and 18th century set into its walls. In the nave are the village war memorial and an interesting Crimean war memorial. The churchyard includes the gravestone of Henry Addison VC among a number of other notable memorials.