St Elphin's Church, Warrington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Elphin's Church, Warrington |
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St Elphin's Church, Warrington
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| OS grid reference | SJ 616,885 |
| Location | Warrington, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Elphin, Warrington |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 6 December 1949 |
| Architect(s) | Frederick Francis and Horace Francis |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1867 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 281 feet (86 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Warrington |
| Deanery | Warrington |
| Archdeaconry | Warrington |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St Elphin's Church is a very old and important church in the town of Warrington, Cheshire, England. It's known as the main parish church for the area. This church is so special that it's listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's a really important historic place. It's still an active Anglican church today.
Contents
History of St Elphin's Church
People have worshipped on this spot for a very long time, since around 650 AD! A priest was even mentioned in Warrington in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086. Legend says that the first church here was built by Saint Oswald for his friend Saint Elphin. Elphin stayed as the first priest until he died in 679.
Building the Church Through the Years
The oldest parts of the church you see today, like the chancel and the crypt (an underground room), are from a church built in 1354. This older church was built by Sir William Boteler.
During the English Civil War, the church was badly damaged by the Parliament's army, known as the Roundheads. After the war, the tower was rebuilt in 1696, and the main part of the church (the nave) was rebuilt in 1770. An extra section, the south aisle, was added in the early 1800s.
Most of the church's current look comes from a huge makeover between 1859 and 1867. This was done by architects Frederick and Horace Francis. During this time, the tall spire was added. The church bells have also been replaced or fixed many times, in 1698, 1884, and again in 1950.
Special Chapels Inside the Church
Inside St Elphin's, there are a few special chapels:
- St Ann's Chapel: This chapel was started by Thomas Massey in the 1400s. His family owned it for many years. Later, the Patten family took it over and used it as a burial place.
- The Lady Chapel: Sir John Boteler founded this chapel in 1290. He and his family members were buried here. In 1943, it became a chapel for the South Lancashire Regiment and later for the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
The church has a wide main area called the nave, with wide sections on either side called north and south aisles. At the end of each aisle, there's a chapel. A tall spire sits on top of a central tower where the main parts of the church meet.
Inside the Church
- Seating: In the aisles, you'll find galleries with pews (church benches) that have doors.
- Altar Area: The decorated screen behind the altar, called the reredos, was made in 1933 and decorated more in 1999 by Ronald Sims.
- Stained Glass: Some of the beautiful stained glass windows were designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. They were damaged during World War II but have been repaired. Other windows are by A. Gibbs.
- Monuments: You can see memorials inside, including tablets for Dr Thomas Percival (who died in 1804) and Thomas Lyon (who died in 1818).
- Regimental Chapel: The chapel dedicated to the regiments has several old monuments. These include a statue of Lady Alicia Boteler from the early 1300s and a stone monument to Sir John Boteler (who died in 1463) and his wife. The screen in this chapel is a memorial to the Second Boer War from 1903. The stained glass here is a memorial to World War II, made in 1947.
- St Ann's Chapel: This chapel holds monuments for the Massey and Patten families.
- Organs: A large pipe organ was put in the church in 1876. It was rebuilt and moved around a few times over the years. This big organ is no longer used. Instead, a modern electronic organ was installed in 2005.
The Tall Spire
The church's most noticeable feature is its very tall spire, which is 281 feet (86 m) high! This makes it one of the tallest church spires in England. It is:
- The fifth highest parish church spire in the UK.
- The eighth highest spire in all of England.
Outside the Church Grounds
The main entrance to the church grounds has a gateway from the 1700s. It has two stone pillars with urns on top and iron gates. There are also smaller gates for people walking. This gateway is also a listed historic feature. The old cobblestones and pavement leading to the gateway are also protected. The church and its land are part of the Church Street Conservation Area, which means it's a special historic place.
See also
- Grade I and II* listed buildings in Warrington
- St Elphin's School - founded by St Elphin's Church
- Listed buildings in Warrington (unparished area)
- Church Street (Warrington)
