Church of St James the Great, Haydock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St James the Great, Haydock |
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| OS grid reference | SJ 564,970 |
| Location | Church Road, Haydock, Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Dedication | St James the Great |
| Consecrated | 11 December 1866 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | W. and J. Hay Douglas and Fordham |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, Timber framing with brick nogging |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St James the Great, Haydock |
| Deanery | Winwick |
| Archdeaconry | St. Helens and Warrington |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
The Church of St James the Great is a church located on Church Road in Haydock, England. Haydock used to be a mining town and is now part of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens in Merseyside. This church is an active Anglican parish church. This means it is a local church that serves the people living in a specific area, called a parish. It belongs to the Diocese of Liverpool.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings and First Building
The story of St James the Great Church began in 1837. A school called Haydock National School opened on the same spot where the church now stands. Church services were held in the school's main classroom. Clergy, which are church leaders, from a nearby town called Ashton led these services. Today, that old school building is a meeting room. It connects the church to the house where the vicar (the church's priest) lives.
By 1861, Haydock's population was growing fast. The school classroom was no longer big enough for all the people who wanted to attend church. People hoped to build a large church in the middle of the community. However, to solve the problem quickly, they decided to build a small chapel. This chapel was attached to the school and connected by large double doors.
The first chapel was designed by architects W. and J. Hay. George Harris of St. Helens built it. It was officially opened and blessed on December 11, 1866. When the first stone was laid, people said the church would be named after St. Alban. But when it was officially opened as the parish church for the new parish, it was named after St James the Great.
Expanding the Church Building
By 1888, the church had become too small again because Haydock's population kept growing. Instead of building a completely new church somewhere else, they decided to make the existing chapel bigger. In 1889, plans for a large extension were approved. The foundation stone for this new part was laid on October 5, 1889. The newly expanded church opened on July 25, 1891. It was officially blessed in June 1892. The original chapel then became the Lady chapel, which is a special chapel often dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The extension was designed by a famous architectural firm called Douglas and Fordham. Later, between 1929 and 1931, some parts of the church needed rebuilding due to structural problems. The chancel (the area around the altar), the sanctuary (the most sacred part), and the west wall were rebuilt. The church's spire was also removed at this time. From 1988 to 1990, the church was reorganized inside. This created a larger chancel area and a new chapel. This new chapel is dedicated to St. Alban.
Church Traditions Today
St James the Great Church follows the Traditional Catholic style of worship within the Church of England. This means it has a style of worship that is similar to Roman Catholic churches. Because the church does not support the ordination of women as priests, it receives special guidance. This guidance comes from the Bishop of Beverley, who is currently Glyn Webster.
Church Design and Features
Building Materials and Style
The first part of the church was small and made of brick. This part is now the Lady Chapel. The newer part of the church is built using a special method called timber framing. This means it has a strong wooden frame with bricks filling the spaces between the timbers. This style was chosen because it was flexible. This flexibility helped protect the building from any damage caused by subsidence, which is when the ground sinks, often due to mining.
The east end of the church, where the altar is, was originally timber-framed. However, it was rebuilt with brick and render (a type of plaster) between 1929 and 1931. Inside the church, you will see a lot of dark-stained oak wood.
Inside the Church
One of the most eye-catching features inside the church is a hanging rood. A rood is a large crucifix, which is a cross with a figure of Jesus on it. This rood was made in 1952. Edward Hines of the Warham Guild designed it, and Jethro Harris carved it.
In the Lady Chapel, there is a triptych from 1999. A triptych is a work of art made of three panels. This one is made from icons, which are religious paintings, from the Barsana monastery in Romania. In St. Alban's Chapel, there is another icon-style crucifix. A Romanian artist created this piece.
The church's organ is on a raised platform above the entrance. Plaques nearby explain its history. It was first built in 1922 by Harrison and Harrison for a church in Scotland. Then, in 1986, David Wells of Liverpool rebuilt and changed it for St. James's Church.
Outside the Church
The churchyard is the area around the church. It contains the war graves of eight soldiers who died in World War I. Near the church entrance, there is a Miners' Memorial. This memorial looks like a wayside cross, which is a cross often found by roads in Europe. It stands over the shared grave of many people who died in the Woodpit mining disaster in 1878.
Church Activities
St James the Great Church follows a "high church" tradition within the Church of England. This means its services are often more formal and traditional. The church holds services on Sundays and some weekdays. It also arranges baptisms, weddings, and funerals. In addition, the church runs several groups for people in the parish.
See also
