All Saints' Church, Runcorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Runcorn |
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All Saints' Church, Runcorn
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 All Saints' Church, Runcorn
Location in Cheshire
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| 53°20′37″N 2°44′12″W / 53.3435°N 2.73656°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 511,833 |
| Location | Runcorn, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | All Saints, Runcorn |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 7 December 1965 |
| Architect(s) | Anthony Salvin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival (Early English) |
| Groundbreaking | 1847 |
| Completed | 1849 |
| Construction cost | £8,052 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,060 |
| Spire height | 161 feet (49 m) |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Runcorn |
| Deanery | Frodsham |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
All Saints' Church is a historic church in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It stands on the south bank of the River Mersey, looking out over Runcorn Gap. People believe the first church here was built way back in 915 by a powerful lady named Ethelfleda.
The original church was replaced around 1250 by a medieval church. This older church was changed and made bigger in the 1300s and 1400s. By the 1800s, the building was old and unsafe. So, a new church was built between 1847 and 1849. It was designed by a famous architect named Anthony Salvin.
The church is made from local sandstone and looks like an Early English style building. It has a tall steeple at one corner. Some of the old church's furniture and memorials were moved into the new building. Many of these memorials remember members of the Brooke family from nearby Norton Priory.
All Saints' Church is still an active Anglican parish church today. It belongs to the diocese of Chester. The church holds services, weddings, and funerals. It also runs community projects. This important building is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very special and important historical site.
Contents
History of All Saints' Church
Early Beginnings: From 915 AD
A church has stood on this spot for many centuries. It's thought that the very first church was built in 915 AD by Ethelfleda. She also built a castle nearby. This first church was probably a simple building made of wood and straw. It was dedicated to St Bertelin.
Runcorn isn't mentioned in the Domesday Book. But we know that Nigel, the first baron of Halton, gave the church a priest around 1080. A medieval church was later built on the same site. When this church was taken down in the 1800s, old Norman stone carvings were found.
Historians believe the medieval church was built around 1250. This is based on its Early English style. The chancel (the area around the altar) was rebuilt in the 1300s. A tall tower was added to the west end of the church in the same century. This tower was either rebuilt or made larger in the 1400s.
The church once had a beautiful wooden screen called a rood screen. This was destroyed when the church was rebuilt in the 1800s. But some small pieces were used in the new choir stalls. The church's dedication changed over time. It went from St Bertelin to St Bartholomew, and then finally to All Saints.
Problems with the Old Church
By the 1700s, parts of the church were falling apart. In 1740, the south aisle had to be rebuilt using bricks. In 1801, people said the church was too small for everyone in the town. So, it was made bigger, and galleries were added. The old Gothic windows were replaced with round ones.
In the early 1800s, people became very worried about the church's condition. The tower was becoming dangerous. The church leaders even said the bells shouldn't be rung. In 1817, they suggested making the tower shorter. The south wall of the chancel was leaning badly. The south aisle, built only 15 years before, was sinking.
It became clear that the church needed to be pulled down and rebuilt. Some temporary repairs were done, but there wasn't enough money for a full rebuild. In 1843, reports confirmed the church was in a "very dangerous condition." Architects like Anthony Salvin agreed it couldn't be fixed.
In September 1846, the last sermon was given in the old medieval church. By November, plans were made to build a brand new church.
Building the New Church (1847-1849)
The new church was designed by Anthony Salvin. Its first stone was laid in 1847 by Richard Brooke. The church was officially opened on January 11, 1849. It could seat 1,600 people.
The new church cost £8,052 to build. This money came from donations and local taxes. Major donors included Miss Orred, Sir Richard Brooke, and the dean and chapter of Christ Church, Oxford. Sir Richard Brooke also gave the beautiful stained glass windows in the chancel. A clock was put in the tower in 1851.
In 1910, an old document from the Pope was found in the churchyard. It mentioned the closing down of Norton Priory.
Architecture of All Saints' Church
Outside the Church
All Saints' Church is built from Runcorn sandstone and has a slate roof. It's designed in the Early English style. The church has a main area called a nave with aisles on both sides. It also has a smaller, lower chancel at the east end.
A tall steeple stands at the southwest corner. This steeple has a square tower with an eight-sided spire that reaches 161 feet (49 meters) high. The steeple has strong supports called buttresses. It also has large openings for the bells and two rows of small windows called lucarnes.
The church has special supports at its corners that look like small spires. The roofs of the chancel and nave have decorative crosses and pointed tops. There's a room for the organ and a special chapel for war memorials. Most of the windows are tall, narrow lancet windows.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has rows of arches supported by square columns. These columns have decorative tops. The floor of the chancel is covered with colorful encaustic tiles. The beautiful reredos (a screen behind the altar) is made of marble and dates from 1888. The alabaster altar rails were added in 1900. Both were given by the daughter of a former vicar.
Many memorial tablets are inside the church. Some were moved from the old church. They remember members of the Brooke family and past vicars. Also brought from the old church were a unique table, two special chairs, and a chest. A royal coat of arms of King George III was also moved here.
The oldest memorial is for two women who died in 1672. Another large memorial is for Thomas Brooke, who died in 1737. Two memorials were made by a sculptor named John Bacon. One shows a small angel with an urn. The other shows a female figure by an urn.
There's a memorial for J. R. Hughes, who died at sea in 1874. It shows him in the water with an angel offering him a crown. The church has a set of eight bells. They were made in 1851. The heaviest bell weighs about 800 kilograms.
External Features
Next to the church, there's an old building that used to be a hearse house. It was built around 1833. Now, it's used as an electricity sub-station. It's a small, rectangular building made of red sandstone with a tiled roof. It has a wide arched doorway. This hearse house is also a Grade II listed building.
Why All Saints' Church is Special
All Saints' Church is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important building with special historical interest. Experts say it's "more generous and rounded" than many other churches designed by Salvin. They especially admire its "high, graceful" steeple.
Bells and Bellringing
The medieval church had five bells. When the church was taken down, the heaviest bell was moved to Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn. The other four bells were melted down and used to make new bells.
The current eight bells were made in 1850 in London. They were officially dedicated in 1851. The bells are hung on two levels in the tower. There's a clock hammer that strikes the heaviest bell every hour.
The room where bellringers stand is directly below the bells. The walls of the tower are about 3 feet thick! The clock mechanism is in this room and needs to be wound by hand every two weeks.
There is an active group of bellringers who practice on Tuesday evenings. They focus on training new members. The bellringers are currently trying to raise £75,000 to fix the bells, as they are quite old and need repair.
All Saints' Church Today
Today, All Saints' Church is an active parish church. It's part of the diocese of Chester. The church works together with Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn.
The church serves the Old Town area of Runcorn. It holds Sunday services, baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
See also
- Grade I and II* listed buildings in Halton (borough)
- Listed buildings in Runcorn (urban area)
- List of new churches by Anthony Salvin
