St Francis Xavier Church, Liverpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Francis Xavier's Church |
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Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Liverpool
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| OS grid reference | SJ356911 |
| Location | Salisbury Street, Everton, Liverpool |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Francis Xavier's Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church, active |
| Founded | 4 December 1848 |
| Dedication | St Francis Xavier |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II*, 28 June 1952 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph John Scoles, Edmund Kirby |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1842 |
| Completed | 1887 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Liverpool North |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | Liverpool |
St Francis Xavier's Church is a Roman Catholic church located on Salisbury Street in Everton, Liverpool, England. It is a very important building, listed as Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest. The church is still active today, serving as a parish church within the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Contents
History of St Francis Xavier's Church
The church was looked after by the Jesuits, who are members of a religious group called the Society of Jesus, from when it started until Easter 2023.
Building the Church
In 1840, a group of people called the Society of St Francis Xavier decided that Liverpool needed a new church. This was because the number of Roman Catholics in the city was growing very fast. The first stone for the church was laid in 1842. Joseph John Scoles was chosen as the architect. He also designed other important churches, like the Church of the Immaculate Conception in London.
The church officially opened its doors on December 4, 1848. Later, in 1883, the tall spire was added to the church. The church was built to hold 1,000 people, but even that wasn't enough for the large number of churchgoers. So, in 1888, an extra chapel called the Sodality Chapel was opened. It was designed by Edmund Kirby. In 1898, the wall between this new chapel and the main church was removed to make more space.
Inside the Church
The church has beautiful old statues and many special items from the Victorian era. Some of these were made by an artist named Conrad Dressler. There is also a collection of old church clothes, called vestments, from the Victorian and early 1900s. Newer banners and vestments have also been added.
In 2007, a special shrine was opened to honor St Mary del Quay. This was the name of the very first chapel in Liverpool, built in 1207. The shrine was created to celebrate 750 years since Liverpool was given its official charter by King John.
Challenges and Revival
By the time of the Second World War, St Francis Xavier's was the biggest Roman Catholic parish in England. It had over 13,000 Catholic members. During the war, the church was damaged, especially its roof, and many windows were broken.
From the 1960s, the church faced tough times. Many houses in the area were pulled down, and most church members moved to other parts of the city. For many years, the area around the church was empty and uncared for.
In 1981, there were plans to pull down a large part of the church called the nave. However, a big campaign across the country helped save it. The church leaders agreed to help maintain only the Sodality Chapel, leaving the nave to the local church members. A glass screen was even put up between the chapel and the nave.
But with new Jesuit staff and strong support from people who used to go to the church, things changed. By 1997, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary. This celebration, with a flower festival and a big dinner, helped bring new life back to the church. In 2001, the parish joined with two other parishes, and the Sodality Chapel was renamed The Chapel of St Mary of the Angels and St Joseph.
Schools and Famous People
The old schools connected to the church, which had been empty since the 1980s, were taken over by Liverpool Hope University in the late 1990s. They are now part of the university's Creative Campus, where students study arts and drama.
Many famous people went to the SFX schools, including actor John Gregson, comedian Charlie Chaplin, and playwright Jimmy McGovern. Archbishop Thomas Roberts, who was from the area, became an archbishop in the church. The famous Jesuit poet, Father Gerard Manley Hopkins, also worked at the parish for two years.
Architecture of the Church
The church is built from stone and has roofs made of Welsh slate. It has a long main area called a nave, with side sections called aisles. There is also a short chancel at the front with chapels on either side. On one side, there is a tower with a spire, and on the other, the Sodality Chapel.
Exterior Features
In 2000, the church's roof was replaced. Since then, the building has had new electrical wiring and a new heating system. Money from the Heritage Lottery helped pay for the outside stonework to be repaired. A group called 'The Friends of SFX' also paid for smaller improvements, like fixing a stained glass window of St Ignatius that was broken during the war and found in the church attic.
Interior Features
The main altar and the decorative screen behind it, called a reredos, are made of white Caen limestone. They were designed by S. J. Nicholl. The side chapels also have similar altars. One chapel has a beautiful, life-sized carving of Christus Consolator. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is also made of Caen stone. A fancy font is at the back of the church, under the area where the organ is.
Many of the stained glass windows in the church were made by Hardman and Powell. The windows behind the main altar were damaged during the Second World War and replaced in 1945. Other windows include one from 1935 in the organ loft and two newer ones by Linda Walton from 1997 and 2000. The stained glass in the Sodality Chapel was designed by Edmund Kirby.
The church has a set of eight bells that were made in 1920. They were re-hung in 2002–03. The large organ, which has four keyboards, was built in 1849 and later improved in 1907.
Present Day Activities
The church is open most mornings of the week, but it is closed on Wednesdays. Services are held on Sundays at 10:15 AM and on weekdays at midday. The bells are regularly rung by a group called the Liverpool Universities Society of Change Ringers.
In 2008, when Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture, the church hosted a special exhibition. It was called Held in Trust: 2008 Years of Sacred Culture. The exhibition showed old items from Stonyhurst College, beautiful embroideries, and church plates from the church's own collection. It also displayed vestments from the Portuguese Embassy in London. Some of the amazing items on display included a book of homilies from 1170, Thomas More's hat, and Katherine of Aragon's special church robe.
In 2010, the old community chapel above the sacristies was renovated. It now provides a home for the Jesuits who serve the parish.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Francisco Javier (Liverpool) para niños
- Grade II* listed buildings in Liverpool – City Centre
- List of Jesuit sites in the United Kingdom
- List of Catholic churches in the United Kingdom
- List of works by Edmund Kirby
- St Francis Xavier's College, Liverpool
