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 an active Anglican church located in Haydock, a town in Merseyside, England. It is a parish church, which means it serves the local community. The church is part of the Diocese of Liverpool.
Contents
History of St James the Great Church
The story of St James the Great Church began with a school. In 1837, the Haydock National School opened on this very spot. Church services were held in the school's main classroom.
Why was the church built?
By 1861, Haydock's population was growing fast. The school classroom was no longer big enough for church services. People hoped to build a large church in the town centre. But for a quicker solution, they decided to build a chapel attached to the school. This chapel would be the first church building.
Building the first church
The original chapel was designed by W. and J. Hay. It was finished and officially opened on 11 December 1866. When the first stone was laid, it was meant to be dedicated to St. Alban. However, when it officially became the parish church, it was dedicated to St. James the Great. The old school building now serves as a meeting room, connecting the church to the nearby vicarage.
Expanding the church building
By 1888, even the new chapel was too small for the growing community. Instead of building a completely new church elsewhere, they decided to make the existing one bigger. Plans for a large extension were approved in 1889. The foundation stone for this new part was laid on 5 October 1889. The much larger church opened on 25 July 1891. The original chapel then became the Lady chapel of the expanded church. This extension was designed by a famous architectural firm, Douglas and Fordham.
Later, between 1929 and 1931, some parts of the church, like the chancel and west wall, had to be rebuilt because of structural issues. The spire was also removed at this time. More recently, from 1988 to 1990, the church was reorganized inside. This created a larger chancel area and a new chapel, which is dedicated to St. Alban.
What is the church like today?
St James the Great is part of the Traditional Catholic group within the Church of England. This means it follows older traditions. Because it does not support the ordination of women as priests, the parish receives special support from the Bishop of Beverley.
Architecture and Special Features
The first church building was small and made of brick. It now serves as the Lady chapel within the larger church. The newer part of the church is quite unique. It uses timber framing with bricks filling the spaces (called brick nogging). This style was chosen because it was flexible. This flexibility helped protect the building from possible damage caused by mining subsidence (when the ground sinks). The eastern end of the church was originally timber-framed but was rebuilt with brick and render in 1929–31. Inside, you'll see a lot of dark-stained oak wood.
What are the church's most striking features?
One of the most eye-catching features is the hanging rood. This is a large crucifix (a cross with Jesus on it) that hangs above the main area. It was designed in 1952 by Edward Hines and carved by Jethro Harris.
In the Lady Chapel, there is a beautiful triptych from 1999. A triptych is a work of art made of three panels. This one features icons from a monastery in Romania. In St. Alban's Chapel, there is also an icon-style crucifix, which was specially made by a Romanian artist.
The church organ
The church's organ is located on a raised platform near the entrance. Plaques tell us that it was first built in 1922 by Harrison and Harrison for a church in Scotland. It was then rebuilt and changed for St. James's Church in 1986 by David Wells of Liverpool.
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 entrance, you'll find the Miners' Memorial. This memorial looks like a cross you might see on a roadside in Europe. It stands over the shared grave of many people who died in the terrible Woodpit mining disaster of 1878.
Church Activities
St James the Great Church follows a "high church" tradition, which means it has more formal and traditional services. It holds services on Sundays and some weekdays. The church also arranges baptisms, weddings, and funerals for the community. In addition, it runs various groups for people in the parish.
See also
