Prescot Parish Church Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Prescot Parish Church
Church of St Mary, Prescot
Prescot Parish Church from the east
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OS grid reference	SJ 465 927
Location	Prescot, Merseyside
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	19 March 1951
Architect(s)	Henry Sephton (steeple)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone
Administration
Parish	Prescot
Deanery	Huyton
Archdeaconry	Knowsley and Sefton
Diocese	Liverpool
Province	York

Prescot Parish Church, also known as St Mary's Church, is a historic building in the town of Prescot, Merseyside, England. It is listed as a Grade I building, which means it is very important and protected for its history. This church is an active Anglican parish church, serving its local community.

History of Prescot Parish Church
Architecture and Design
Churchyard and War Graves
See also

History of Prescot Parish Church

Early Beginnings and Rebuilding

The churchyard's round shape suggests that a church might have stood here even before the Normans arrived in 1066. Some parts of the current church, like the chancel and north vestry, might date back to the 1400s. The church was mostly rebuilt in 1610.

Adding the Tower and Spire

The church's tower was built in 1729. Later, in 1797, a tall spire was added to the tower. Both the tower and spire were designed by an architect named Henry Sephton. The spire had to be rebuilt after it was hit by lightning.

Changes Over the Years

Over time, the church has seen many changes.

Between 1817 and 1819, the aisles (side sections) of the church were made wider.
In 1876, the church went through a big "restoration," which means it was repaired and updated.
A south vestry (a room used by the clergy) was added in 1900.
In 1953, the aisles were rebuilt again.

The Church Today

Today, the Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin is part of the Benefice of Prescot. This means it works together with the Church of St Paul. St Mary's is known for its "moderate Anglo-catholic" style of worship, which is a specific tradition within the Anglican church.

Architecture and Design

Building Materials and Shape

The church is built using red sandstone. It has a west tower, a main area called a nave with a clerestory (a high section with windows), and aisles on the north and south sides. It also has a chancel (the area around the altar) with vestries on both the north and south.

Tower Features

The tower has an entrance on the west side with a window above it. There's also a decorated band called a frieze. The part of the tower where the bells are has special flat columns called pilasters and a decorative band called an entablature. It has openings for the bells and clock faces. The top of the tower has a balustrade (a row of small pillars) and three decorative points called finials at each corner. The spire has three levels of small windows called lucarnes.

Inside the Church

Inside, the church has five-arched sections called arcades. Stone plaques on the walls show the family symbols and initials of people who helped fund the church in 1610. The wooden stalls, where people sit, have special carvings called poppyheads and date back to 1636.

Special Features and Art

The reredos (a screen behind the altar) is made of wood panels and was designed by Kempe in 1891.
There are two fonts for baptisms. One is very old, from the Norman period, and sits on a new base. The other was given in 1755 and used to be an Italian marble stoup (a basin for holy water).
The screen separating the chancel was added in 1921.
Some of the beautiful stained glass windows in the south aisle were made by Morris & Co..

Monuments and Memorials

The church also has several monuments.

On the south side, there is a monument from 1803 by Sir Richard Westmacott. It honors William Atherton of Prescot and includes a family crest with the Latin phrase "clarior e tenebris" (meaning "brighter after the darkness").
There is also a brass memorial from 1836 for George Case, who was a mayor of Liverpool. This memorial was designed by A. W. N. Pugin.

Churchyard and War Graves

The churchyard surrounding St Mary's Church is a peaceful place. It contains the graves of 24 service members who died during wars. Twenty-two of these are from World War I, and two are from World War II.

Prescot Parish Church facts for kids

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