Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Birkenhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Birkenhead |
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The church from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | SJ 308 897 |
| Location | Cavendish Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Birkenhead |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 10 August 1992 |
| Architect(s) | E. W. Pugin, Pugin and Pugin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1860 |
| Completed | 1877 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Shrewsbury |
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located on Cavendish Street in Birkenhead, England. It's an active church, meaning people still gather there for services. This church is also a special Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical and architectural site that needs to be protected. It belongs to the diocese of Shrewsbury.
History of Our Lady's Church
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was built a long time ago, between 1860 and 1862. It was designed by an architect named E. W. Pugin. Later, in 1876–77, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was added. This part was designed by the firm Pugin and Pugin.
There were plans to build a tall steeple, but it was never finished. In 1941, during World War II, the house next to the church (called the presbytery) was destroyed by bombs. The church itself also had some damage to its east end. Luckily, the church was repaired in 1951 by a company called Reynolds and Sons.
Exploring the Church's Architecture
Our Lady's Church is made from strong stone, and its roof is covered with Welsh slate. The church has a main area called the nave. On either side of the nave are north and south aisles. Each aisle has two small rooms for confessions.
At the front of the church, there are two entrances. Above them, you can see a painted and carved rose shape within a quatrefoil (a design with four parts). Higher up, there are five narrow lancet windows and a large round rose window. The pointed tops of the church, called gables, have decorative wrought iron crosses.
Along the sides of the aisles, each section has three lancet windows. Between these windows are buttresses, which are supports that help hold up the walls. The windows higher up, in the clerestory, are wide and single. Around the chancel, there are more lancet windows at this upper level, with raised letters below them.
The church also has a tower, but it only reaches the height of the roof's edge. On the south side of the tower, there's a doorway. Above this door, in a special niche, there's a statue of Mary. On the east side of the tower, you'll find another rose window. There's also a small stair turret (a small tower with stairs) on the northeast side.
Inside the church, you'll see a beautiful reredos (a screen or decoration behind the altar) from 1895, also designed by Pugin and Pugin. The walls around the apse (the curved end of the chancel) have two levels of decorative arcading (a series of arches). There are also paintings by Hardman & Co. that were unfortunately damaged during the bombing in 1941.
See also
- Listed buildings in Birkenhead
