Broughton Parish Church, Preston

I have often seen Broughton Parish Church on the northern outskirts of Preston as I joined or left the M6. Last month, I finally managed to call there. Though the building was locked, online sources suggested that the internals were fairly predictable so I was less aggrieved at having to make do with the outsides.

The nave is fairly modern, looking nineteenth century. The tower I thought was around 1500 on account of its squashed arches, but one window had three, rounded arches which is more mid-sixteenth century. Church building and extension generally dried up at the reformation so the tower intrigued me. Sure enough, a little research at home yielded the year 1533.

For the good folk of Broughton, far away from the turbulent affairs of London and the machinations of the court, the year 1533 meant business as usual. Yet 1533 was the very start of the Reformation, when England seceded from the See of Rome and create its own reformed version of Christianity, retaining aspects of the old but diverging significantly in doctrine and leadership. Although the windows may have appeared contemporary to the time of construction, angelus bells, incense and other forms associated with the old ways were on their way out. Although the tower is now the oldest part of the building, and possibly the most ancient structure in the parish, the world of which it was part was already drawing to an end.

Most of the people at Salem Chapel and most of the readers of this blog were born in the twentieth century. The world is changing, and those things we thought permanent and stable are being eroded. Thank God, we head to another world: eternal, timeless and never degrading or wobbling. The Reformation, though imperfect and sometimes violent, was a good thing. What acts of service we do now for Christ and His people are the only parts of this existence that shall survive into the next.

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13, New King James Version

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