Field Broughton / Broughton East

The Furness Family History Society website for Field Broughton [http://www.furnessfhs.co.uk/broughton_st_peter_01.htm] [accessed 31 January 2010] notes: "St. Peter’s is unusual in having no fewer than three fonts. The smallest of these (only 18” high) is a portable one and was first used in the 1745 chapel, where it was kept in a niche in the wall. The second font, in the south transept, was presented to the chapel by the Barker family of Broughton Lodge. It is made of creamy Portland Stone, 8-sided, and delicately carved on 4 of its faces with the bull of St. Matthew, the lion of St. Mark, the angel of St. Luke, and the eagle of St. John. The larger font near the church door was installed as part of the building design and is made of Dent fossil marble." This same source adds: "The present church stands on the site of an older chapel, also dedicated to St. Peter, which was originally a Chapel of Ease to Cartmel Priory. The chapel was consecrated by Samuel Peploe, Bishop of Chester on 30th June 1745. By 1880, the chapel and vicarage were in disrepair and considered inadequate. During the Rev’s Ransome’s 30 years at St. Peter’s, the chapel was replaced by one of the most striking churches in the diocese, a new vicarage was built, and the building next to the old vicarage converted to a Parish Room and Sunday School. The old vicarage is now a private residence. The foundation stone of the present church was laid on 10th May 1892 by Harriet Margaret Hibbert of Broughton grove, as a memorial to her late husband. The designers were Paley, Austin and Paley of Lancaster, who designed many of the churches in the district. St. Peter’s is an outstanding example of the decorated style of architecture, with its warm red sandstone and distinctive shingled spire. The church was consecrated on St. Peter’s Day 1894 by the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt.Rev’d JW Bardsley."