St Wilfrid's Parish Church, Ribchester, Lancashire. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Visual Inspection.

IWA Architects have been required by English Heritage to conduct an archaeological building investigation of St Wilfrid’s Parish Church, Ribchester, Lancashire, (NGR
SD 69964 35038) prior to extensive renovations being carried out at the site. The works comprised a desk-based assessment complemented by a visual inspection of the church. Following submission of a project design, OA North was commissioned to
undertake the work, which was carried out in July 2004.
The desk-based assessment determined that the present church is built in the southwest corner of the site of the Roman fort of Bremetennacum, from which Ribchester ultimately derives its name; being a contraction of “Ribble castra” meaning Roman camp on the Ribble. There is no secure evidence for a Christian presence at the fort during the Roman period, but Celtic Christian missionaries are thought to have preached in this part of Lancashire in the seventh century AD. In addition, fragments of Anglian crosses have been found within the churchyard. It has, therefore, been
conjectured that an Anglian church was established on the site prior to the present church. The first historic record of a church is in AD1200, a date which corresponds with the core architecture of the Nave and Chancel. The church was subsequently expanded in the forthcoming centuries with the addition of the West Tower, a porch, two chantrys and finally a Vestry added in 1881. It is presently a Grade I listed building.