St Ambrose's Church, Speke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Ambrose's Church, Speke |
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St Ambrose's Church, Speke
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| Location | Heathgate Avenue, Speke, Liverpool, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 16 November 2007 |
| Architect(s) | Alfred Bullen |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Modernist |
| Groundbreaking | 1959 |
| Completed | 1961 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete and brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Liverpool |
St Ambrose's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Heathgate Avenue, Speke, Liverpool, England. It is a busy parish church that serves the local community. The church is part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It is also recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical building.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
This church was built a while ago, between 1959 and 1961. It was designed by an architect named Alfred Bullen. He worked with Jerzy Faczyński to create the church's look. The church was built to serve the people living in the Speke housing area. This area had started growing in the 1930s and got much bigger in the 1950s.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
The church is built with a strong concrete frame. Bricks cover the outside. It has a rectangular shape with a separate area called the sanctuary. To the north, there is a tall bell tower, called a campanile, which is about 25.6 meters high. A low entrance area connects the tower to the main church building.
On the south side, there is a Lady Chapel, also connected by a low walkway. The main part of the church has concrete pilasters around it. These are like flat columns that stick out from the wall. Between these pilasters, the lower part is brick, and the upper part has windows. The windows have curved tops, making them look like an arcade. The bell tower is made of brick and has concrete bands that divide it into four sections. The very top section holds a bell and is open. An illuminated cross sits on top of the bell tower.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has tunnel vaults on three sides. These are curved ceilings that look like tunnels. There is also a curved walkway, called an ambulatory, supported by square columns. The roof is flat and has special panels to help with sound. The floor is made of terrazzo, which is a mix of marble chips and cement. The sanctuary area is raised and made of marble.
A stone altar stands on three steps. Next to it are a font (for baptisms) and a pulpit (where sermons are given). There are pews (church benches) on three sides of the sanctuary. The organ is placed high up above the entrance. Around the church, you can see the Stations of the Cross, which are artworks by Adam Kossowski. The colorful stained glass windows were made by Gounil and Philip Brown. Paintings behind the altar were added in the 1990s. The pipe organ has two manuals (keyboards) and was built by Rushworth and Dreaper.
Why This Church Is Special
The church was officially recognized as a listed building on November 16, 2007. It is a Grade II listed building. This means it is considered "nationally important and of special interest." Experts have said that the church is "unusually broad and ambitious." They also noted that it has not changed much since it was built.
Some people, like Pollard and Pevsner, who wrote about buildings in England, think this church is the best building in the Speke area. They describe it as looking a bit like a sports hall or a boiler chimney. The church itself claims to be the first Roman Catholic church in England built with a rectangular shape and a separate altar.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Liverpool-L24
