St Alban's Church, Wallasey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Alban's Church, Wallasey |
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St Alban's Church, Wallasey, from the northwest
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| Location | Mill Lane, Liscard, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Alban, Wallasey |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Alban |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 20 January 1988 |
| Architect(s) | Stephen R. Eyre and Joseph Hansom |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1852 |
| Completed | 1853 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Shrewsbury |
St Alban's Church is a beautiful old church located in Mill Lane, Liscard, Wallasey, England. It's an active Roman Catholic church that belongs to the diocese of Shrewsbury. This special building is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical site that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St Alban's Church
Building the Church
St Alban's Church was built between 1852 and 1853. Before the church was finished, local Roman Catholics met in a nearby school. That school had been built in 1842.
The church was designed by two architects, Stephen R. Eyre and Joseph Hansom. The first stone for the church was laid on June 8, 1852. The church officially opened its doors in September 1853.
Changes and Repairs Over Time
When the church was first planned, it was supposed to have two side sections called aisles. However, to save money, the north aisle was not built.
Over the years, the church needed some repairs and changes. In 1904, the tall steeple was partly taken down and then rebuilt. In the early 1900s, the north wall of the church started to sink. It had to be rebuilt along with the chancel arch between 1913 and 1914.
Damage and Renovations
During 1941, the church was damaged. It lost some of its beautiful decorations. These included a fancy altar, statues, and some stained glass windows.
In 1952, the inside of the church was updated. The covers over the Stations of the Cross were removed. The sanctuary, which is a sacred part of the church, was updated in 1977. This was done to follow new guidelines from the Second Vatican Council. The church had another update in 2004.
Architecture of St Alban's
What the Church Looks Like from Outside
The church is built from stone, and its roofs are made of hexagonal slate tiles. It has a main area called a nave with six sections. It also has a row of windows high up, called a clerestory.
On the south side, there's a side aisle and a porch. The church also has a chancel at the east end. Next to the chancel are a north vestry and a south Lady chapel. There's a tall steeple at the northwest corner.
Details of the Steeple and Windows
The steeple has strong corner supports called buttresses. It has an entrance on the west side with a small decorated space, or niche, above it. The steeple also has pairs of openings with slats for the bells. A pointed roof, called a broach spire, sits on top with small windows called lucarnes.
On the east side of the steeple, there's a stair tower that sticks out. It has its own small spire. At the west end of the nave, there's a large window with four sections. It has fancy stone patterns called Decorated tracery. Next to this window is another niche.
Along the south side of the aisle, there are windows with two sections. These are separated by buttresses. The second section has a porch with a pointed roof, called a gable. The high clerestory windows are shaped like spherical triangles. The north wall has two rows of windows with buttresses between them. The large east window has four sections.
Inside the Church
Inside, the main area has an arcade with six sections. The arches are supported by columns called piers that have a special quatrefoil shape. At the west end of the church, there is a wooden gallery.
In the chancel, there's a triple sedilia, which is a set of seats for the clergy. Between the chancel and the chapel, there's a two-section arcade with a screen. All around the walls, you can see three-dimensional Stations of the Cross. These show scenes with many people.
See also
- Listed buildings in Wallasey
