Church of St Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick

The Church of St Mary le Ghyll is in Ghyll Lane, Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Skipton, the archdeaconry of Craven, and the Diocese of Leeds. Its benefice is united with those of Holy Trinity, Barnoldswick, and St Michael, Bracewell. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.HistoryThe present church was built to replace an older church on the site in about 1160 by monks from Fountains Abbey. The tower was added in 1524.ArchitectureExteriorSt Mary's is constructed in stone with a stone slate roof. The plan consists of a continuous nave and chancel, a south aisle with a porch, and a west tower. The tower has diagonal buttresses, and a stair turret at the southeast corner. It contains a string course with gargoyles, and has a three-light west window, two-light louvred bell openings, and an embattled parapet. On the south side of the church are three windows and a priest's door. On the north side are four windows, one of which is a lancet. The window at the west end of the aisle has three lights, and the east window consists of three stepped lancets.