All Saints' Church, St Helens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, St Helens
All Saints' Church, St Helens, from the northwest
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OS grid reference	SJ 534,936
Location	Ellamsbridge Road, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	All Saints, Sutton
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	4 August 1891
Consecrated	14 October 1893
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	2 June 1988
Architect(s)	Paley, Austin and Paley
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	4 August 1891
Completed	1893
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, cement-tile roofs
Administration
Parish	Sutton
Deanery	Saint Helens
Archdeaconry	Warrington
Diocese	Liverpool
Province	Province of York

All Saints' Church is a historic and active church located on Ellamsbridge Road in Sutton, Merseyside, England. It is part of the Anglican faith, which is a branch of Christianity. The church serves the local community as a parish church, meaning it's the main church for the area. It is also a very important building, listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's protected because of its special historical and architectural value.

History of All Saints' Church

Building the Church: 1891-1893

All Saints' Church was built a long time ago, between 1891 and 1893. It was designed by a famous team of architects from Lancaster called Paley, Austin and Paley. The land for the church and a large sum of money (about £1,000 back then) were given by William Pilkington. He was a very important person in the area, known as the lord of the manor, and his family owned the well-known Pilkington glass manufacturing company.

Laying the Foundation Stone

The first stone of the church, called the foundation stone, was put in place on August 4, 1891. This special event was done by William Pilkington's daughter. The church was officially opened and blessed, a process called consecration, on October 14, 1893. This ceremony was led by Bishop John Ryle, who was the Bishop of Liverpool at the time.

Original Plans and Costs

The architects had big plans for the church, including a tall tower where the main parts of the church met. However, this tower was never built. The total cost to build the church was estimated to be around £6,800. Once finished, the church was large enough to seat 600 people, showing how important it was to the community.

Architecture of All Saints' Church

Outside the Church

All Saints' Church is built from red sandstone, which gives it a strong and classic look. The roofs are made of cement tiles. If you look at the church from above, it has a cruciform shape, like a cross. This shape is common in many old churches. The church has a long main hall called a nave with five sections, and a row of windows high up called a clerestory. On either side of the nave are smaller areas called aisles.

Special Features of the Exterior

There's a porch at the southwest side where people enter. The church also has parts sticking out on the north and south sides, known as transepts. At the front, there's a special area for the altar called the chancel, with a small chapel and a room for the clergy called a vestry. The church is built in the Gothic Revival style, which means it looks like the grand churches from the Middle Ages. The windows have different numbers of glass sections, and the large window at the east end has special horizontal bars called transoms.

Inside the Church

When you step inside All Saints' Church, it feels very impressive and grand. The rows of arches inside, called arcades, are supported by strong, eight-sided pillars. These pillars have decorative tops called capitals. The pillars where the main parts of the church cross are extra large. This is because they were built to support the tower that was planned but never constructed.

Modern Changes and Art

At the back of the church, two sections have been changed into a parish room. There's a glass screen separating this room from the rest of the church. The beautiful stained glass in the large east window is a memorial to the Pilkington family, who helped build the church. This colorful glass was made in 1905. The church also has an organ, which was given by William Pilkington in 1900.

Recent Restoration

In September 2020, a small fire happened in the sanctuary area of the church. Because of this, the church has been undergoing a lot of cleaning and repair work. The goal is for it to reopen in early summer 2021. While the church is being fixed, the people who usually worship there are holding their Sunday services at the nearby St Nicholas Church.

See also

• Listed buildings in St Helens, Merseyside
• List of works by Paley, Austin and Paley