St Bartholomew's Church, Rainhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Bartholomew's Church |
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Front entrance
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| OS grid reference | SJ5017890352 |
| Location | Rainhill, Merseyside |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Bartholomew Bretherton |
| Dedication | Saint Bartholomew |
| Consecrated | 24 August 1840 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 28 January 1971 |
| Architect(s) | Joshua Dawson |
| Groundbreaking | April 1838 |
| Construction cost | £8,000 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | St Helens (St Monica) |
| Archdiocese | Liverpool |
| Province | Liverpool |
St Bartholomew's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Rainhill, Merseyside. It was built a long time ago, between 1838 and 1840. The church's design was inspired by a famous church in Rome, Italy, called the Church of San Bartholomew on the Island. This church is considered very important and is a "Grade II listed building," which means it's protected for its special history and architecture. It stands on the A57 Warrington Road, right across from Rainhill Hall. A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner once called it 'The noblest Catholic church in South Lancashire'.
Contents
History of St Bartholomew's Church
Who Founded the Church?
The church was started by a man named Bartholomew Bretherton. He was a very important person in Rainhill. He owned a family business that ran horse-drawn coaches. He also owned a lot of land in the area. Bartholomew Bretherton lived at Rainhill Hall, which is right across from the church.
Before this church was built, Catholic people in Rainhill had to travel far. They went to churches in nearby towns like Prescot or Widnes to attend services.
How the Church Was Built
Bartholomew Bretherton chose the perfect spot for the church. It was on Warrington Road, where everyone traveling through the village could see it. He also picked the design for the church. He wanted it to be named after his own patron saint, Saint Bartholomew.
A local architect named Joshua Dawson created the design. He even traveled to Rome to study the Church of San Bartolomeo all'Isola there. Building began in 1838. The stones used for the church came from a quarry that the Bretherton family owned. Bartholomew Bretherton's daughter, Mrs. Mary Gerard, laid the first foundation stone in April 1838.
The church was finished two years later. It cost about £8,000 to build. It was officially opened and blessed on August 24, 1840. This ceremony was led by George Hilary Brown, a church leader from the area.
Later, in 1849, an Italian-style Bell tower was added next to the church. In 1845, Mary, Bartholomew's daughter, added a special chapel inside the church. She did this to remember her first husband, William Gerard. Over the years, other parts were added, like a grand sandstone gateway and walls around the church grounds. Mary, her parents, and both of Mary's husbands are all buried inside the church.
The Church Community
Cemetery and Notable Burials
Around the church, there is a cemetery. Many members of the Stapleton-Bretherton family are buried there. This family owned the land around the church and Rainhill Hall.
Some famous people buried in the cemetery include Evelyn, Princess Blücher (who lived from 1876 to 1960). Her husband, Prince Gebhard Blücher von Wahlstatt, is also buried there. He was a descendant of a famous general who fought in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Another notable person buried in the cemetery is Kenneth Dewar (1879–1964). He was a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy and took part in the Battle of Jutland. He was married to Gertrude Stapleton-Bretherton, who was Evelyn's sister.
Church Services and Schedule
St Bartholomew's Church shares a priest with another nearby church. This is St Theresa of the Child Jesus Church in Sutton Manor.
At St Bartholomew's, you can attend Sunday Mass on Saturday evenings at 5:15 pm. There is also a Mass on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. Additionally, Masses are held at 10:00 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Mass times at St Theresa's are different, so people can attend services at either church. St Theresa's has Masses on Sundays at 11:00 am and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12 pm.
The church has even been featured on TV! It appeared in episodes of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Both a wedding and a funeral scene were filmed there.
Exterior and Grounds
See also
- Listed buildings in Rainhill
- Mary Stapleton-Bretherton
