St Bede's Church, Widnes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Bede's Church, Widnes
St Bede's Church, Widnes, from the south
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OS grid reference	SJ 514 863
Location	Widnes, Cheshire
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Saint Bede
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	31 October 1983
Architect(s)	Weightman and Hadfield
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	1847
Specifications
Materials	Red sandstone, slate roof
Administration
Parish	St Wilfrid, Widnes
Diocese	Liverpool

St Bede's Church is a beautiful old church located in Appleton Village, Widnes, Cheshire, England. It is a Roman Catholic church that is still very active today. The church is part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It is also a special building because it is listed as a Grade II listed building, meaning it is important to history and should be protected.

History of St Bede's Church

Building and Early Years

St Bede's Church was finished in 1847. It was designed by architects named Weightman and Hadfield. The land for the church was given by the Dennett family, who lived nearby. They also helped pay for the building. The church cost about £3,000 to build back then. This was a lot of money!

The church was officially opened and made sacred on September 22, 1847. This special ceremony is called a consecration.

Church Bells and Renovations

In May 1856, the first church bell was also made sacred by Revd Alexander Goss, who was the bishop of Liverpool. This bell was later replaced in 1879. The new bell was blessed by the bishop at that time, Revd Bernard O'Reilly.

In 1922, the church got a big makeover. It was renovated, which means it was repaired and updated. The roof was also replaced during this time.

Architecture and Design

Building Materials and Shape

St Bede's Church is built from red sandstone, which is a strong, natural stone. Its roof is made of slate, a type of rock that is good for roofing. The church has a specific shape. It has a tall tower on the west side. It also has a main area called a nave with high windows, and two side sections called aisles. There is a special area near the altar called a chancel and a small entrance porch on the south side.

Special Features and Windows

The tower has strong supports called buttresses and decorative stone carvings called gargoyles. The top of the tower has a crenellated design, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The windows in the main part of the church are paired lancets, meaning they are tall and narrow with pointed tops. The windows higher up have a three-leaf shape called a trefoil. The windows in the chancel have fancy stone patterns called tracery. The main entrance to the church is in the tower and has a detailed style known as Decorated Gothic.

Inside the Church

Inside St Bede's, the arches are supported by columns that switch between round and eight-sided shapes. The altar, which is a special table used for services, was made in 1850. Some people believe it was designed by a famous architect named A. W. N. Pugin. There is a large organ located under the tower. The church also has beautiful stained glass windows. You can see them in the east window and on both the north and south sides of the chancel.

The Church Organ

Original Organ and Upgrades

The first pipe organ was put into St Bede's Church in 1848. It cost £200. In the 1930s, this organ was fixed up and made to work with electricity.

New Organ and Renovations

In 1979, the original organ was replaced. The new organ had two manuals, which are like keyboards for organs. It was built by George Benson in 1904 for another church in Oldham. This organ was cleaned in 1937. Then, it was moved to St Bede's, fixed up, and installed by J. A. Cundle and Sons from Liverpool. This work cost £3,850.

Later, in the 2000s, the organ was renovated again by Sydney Reeves. A special grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped pay for this important work.

See also

• Listed buildings in Widnes