Great Harwood's Great Stones

St Bartholomew’ Church at Great Harwood is a pleasant, late medieval building. I have yet to gain entry, but it is certainly on my wish list. It has a peculiar, fifteenth-century tower, the windows of which are not quite central, which lends it some additional charm. To the rear, however, are some older stones built into the wall, as though found by re-builders who wished to display them or at least recycle them as masonry.

I expected the Historic England listing to mention them, perhaps suggesting they were remnants from a previous, Saxon structure. Perhaps I am too familiar with southern church buildings where Saxon structures were more common. They also belong to something more decorated than the current, external wall of which they now form part.

If stones could speak and suffer such human traits as pride, these two pieces might well resent their lowly status as external wall stones, no longer admired as something rather grand and expensive. Yet their current location is one of utility and practicality. Regardless of whether we enjoy our status or role in the local church, we must ask if we are being useful to the Master Builder. He prefers useful people to attractive ones.

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:21, NKJV