St Cuthbert's Church, Churchtown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Cuthbert's
Saint Cuthbert's Church from the churchyard
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OS grid reference	SD 36526 18638
Location	Churchtown, Merseyside
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone and ashlar
Administration
Deanery	North Meols
Archdeaconry	Warrington
Diocese	Liverpool
Province	York

St Cuthbert's Church is an Anglican church located in Churchtown, Merseyside. Churchtown is a village that is now part of Southport, a town in Merseyside, England. This church is still used today as a parish church. It belongs to the Diocese of Liverpool. English Heritage has given it a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building. For a long time, St Cuthbert's was the main church for the area called North Meols in the historic county of Lancashire.

History of St Cuthbert's Church

There has been a church on this spot for a very long time. Records show one existed here even before the year 1154, during the time of King Stephen. The church you see today was built between 1730 and 1739. It replaced the older church that had unfortunately burned down.

Some changes were made to the church in 1806. Then, in 1908 and 1909, a famous architect named Isaac Taylor did a lot of restoration work. He changed many parts of the church, including the chancel (the area around the altar). His work left very few signs of the changes made in 1806.

Special Features of the Church

St Cuthbert's is a Grade II listed building because it has many interesting features.

• You can see beautiful wooden carvings inside. These carvings originally came from St Peter's Church in Liverpool.
• The church also has many memorials. These are special plaques or statues that remember the Fleetwood and Hesketh families. These families used to own most of the land in the local area. Their family homes were Meols Hall in Churchtown and Greaves Hall in Banks.
• The stained glass windows in the church are from the 20th century. They add beautiful colours to the inside of the building.

What "Grade II Listed" Means

On September 21, 1951, St Cuthbert's was officially named a Grade II listed building by English Heritage. There are three grades for listed buildings, and Grade II is the lowest. However, it still means the building is "nationally important and of special interest." This church is an active part of the Church of England. It is part of the Diocese of Liverpool, which is in the Province of York.

Why the Church is on a Hill

In the past, the sea at Southport often covered much of the land that is now the seafront. People believe that St Cuthbert's Church was built on a small hill. This hill helped protect the church from being flooded by the sea. Today, special sea defences keep Southport and its nearby areas safe from floods.

The Old Village Stocks

If you look to the left of the churchyard entrance, right next to the church wall on St. Cuthbert's Road, you will find the old village stocks. These stocks were built in 1741. They are a well-known landmark in the village and are an original part of its history. Stocks were used in the past to punish people for minor crimes.

The Hesketh Family Connection

The Hesketh family lives in the village's main manor house, Meols Hall. This family has a special family crypt (an underground burial place) right here at St Cuthbert's Church.

Famous Graves at the Church

Many people believe that William Sutton, who founded the town of Southport, is buried at St Cuthbert's Church. This is because it is the oldest church in the town.

See also

• Listed buildings in Churchtown, Merseyside