St Andrew's Church, Liverpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint Andrew, Liverpool |
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Church of Saint Andrew, Liverpool,
from the southwest |
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| OS grid reference | SJ 354 900 |
| Location | Rodney Street, Liverpool, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 28 June 1952 |
| Architect(s) | Daniel Stewart, John Foster |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Greek Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 17 June 1823 |
| Completed | 1824 |
| Closed | 1975 |
The Church of Saint Andrew is an old church building located on Rodney Street in Liverpool, England. It used to be a Presbyterian church, which is a type of Christian church that follows the teachings of the Church of Scotland. This building is very important, so it's listed as a Grade II* building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a special historic place that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of the Church Building
The main part of the church was designed by Daniel Stewart. He was the surveyor for the Scottish Presbyterian Church's management team. The front of the church was designed by John Foster. He was a senior surveyor for the city of Liverpool.
The first stone for the church was laid on 17 June 1823. The church officially opened its doors the next year, on 3 December 1824.
When Did the Church Close?
The church closed in 1975. After that, the church members met in a room at Liverpool Cathedral. The group officially stopped meeting after a special service on 27 November 2016. A very important church leader, Dr Russell Barr, spoke at this service.
What Happened After the Closure?
In 1983, a fire badly damaged the building. Because of the damage, one of the church's towers had to be taken down as it was unsafe. In 1988, the church and its graveyard were bought by a private owner. There were plans to fix up the building and use it for offices and medical rooms.
In 2008, Liverpool City Council took over the site. They had spent a lot of money on legal fees and emergency repairs. The church was in very poor condition and was put on a list of "Buildings At Risk."
New Life for the Old Church
In December 2011, good news came! It was announced that the church would be restored. It would be turned into homes for 100 students. The plans included rebuilding one of the church's towers. The outside of the building would also be updated.
By 2015, the front of the building was fully restored and saved. The old church building has now been rebuilt and is used as student housing called "St Andrew's Place."
Architecture and Design
The main part of the church is made of brick covered with a special plaster called render. It has windows that are rounded at the top. The front of the church is made of finely cut stone blocks called ashlar. It is built in the Greek Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek temples.
The front has a deep porch with tall, fancy columns called Ionic columns. At each corner, there are square towers with small domes on top.
Mackenzie Monument in the Churchyard
Next to the church, in the graveyard, there is a special monument. It honors William Mackenzie, who was a railway builder and died in 1851. This monument is shaped like a pyramid and is made of granite. It was put up in 1868.
On the side facing the street, there is a fake entrance. It has two upright stone pieces supporting a flat stone beam called a lintel. This lintel has a bronze plaque on it. This pyramid is also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historic structure.
The Legend of William Mackenzie
There's a popular story about William Mackenzie. A famous Liverpool writer named Tom Slemen helped make this story well-known. The legend says that Mackenzie loved to gamble. He supposedly made a deal with the Devil. To make sure the Devil couldn't claim his soul, his body was placed sitting up inside the pyramid, above ground. Some people even say his ghost still haunts Rodney Street!
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Liverpool – City Centre
