Architectural Features and History

Little doubt can be cast on the fact that a church existed in Barrow during the reign of Stephen. 

This early Norman church appears to have been cruciform in construction with transcepts with a central tower. It is widely assumed that towards the end of the thirteenth century the central tower was dismantled and a new one was erected at the same time at the west end.

The transcept crossing was thrown into the nave while the arcades were rebuilt and a chancel of approximately the present width was rendered.  The present transcepts are relatively modern and convey little information as to the style of the original church.

A thorough restoration was carried out in 1863 at a cost of £1000.  Five years later a scheme was drawn up for the rebuilding of the tower. 

The builder, anxious to complete the task speedily neglected the elementary principles of stress and strain and exactly a week before Christmas Day, 1868 the tower collapsed, taking with it a large portion of the nave.

The restoration of the main body of the church now became a matter of extreme urgency but problems came with funding until an injection of £1000 from an anonymous donor.  The local church authorities, encouraged by this generous offer undertook the restoration which was completed in 1870 at a cost of £4422.  The church was re-opened for the Divine Service on November the first, that year.

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