St George's United Reformed Church, Southport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St George's Church, Southport
St George's Church, Southport, from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SD 339 175
Location	Lord Street, Southport, Sefton, Merseyside
Country	England
Denomination	United Reformed Church
Website	St George, Southport
History
Dedication	Saint George
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	15 November 1972
Architect(s)	Thomas Wylie
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1873
Completed	1874
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, slate roof

St George's Church is a special building located on Lord Street in Southport, England. It is an active church that belongs to the United Reformed Church. This church is also recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place.

History of the Church

St George's Church was built a long time ago, between 1873 and 1874. It was first a Presbyterian Church. A person named Thomas Wylie designed it. Later, in 1931, some changes were made by Irvine and Mosscrip. After that, it became the United Reformed Church we know today.

Church Design and Style

The church is built from strong, rough sandstone and has a slate roof. Its design looks like buildings from around the year 1300. This style is called Gothic Revival.

Outside the Church

The church has five main sections called bays. At the west end, there is a tall steeple. This steeple has a three-part tower and a tall, pointed roof called a broach spire.

• The tower has strong corner supports called buttresses.
• At the bottom of the tower, there is a main entrance with a porch.
• The porch has a steep, pointed roof called a gable. It is decorated with small columns and fancy carvings.
• In the middle part of the tower, there are three small arched spaces called niches.
• The top part of the tower has pairs of two-light openings where the bells are. These openings have covers called louvres.
• Above these, there is a decorated band with arches and a carved top edge. There are also pointed decorations called pinnacles at the corners.
• The spire has two levels of small windows called lucarnes.
• On either side of the tower, at the west end, there are arched doorways. Above these are two-light arched windows.
• The main sections of the church are separated by buttresses. Each section has a three-light window with special stone patterns called plate tracery.

Inside the Church

The inside of St George's Church has one large open space called a nave.

• At the west end, there is a wooden and glass screen with arches.
• At the east end, there is another wooden screen. This screen is also in the Gothic style with arches. It is connected to a raised platform and a reading desk.
• The church windows have beautiful stained glass. Some of this glass was made by a company called Heaton, Butler and Bayne. Other parts were made by Shrigley and Hunt.

Why the Church is Special

On November 15, 1972, St George's Church was officially named a Grade II listed building. This means it is a very important building. Grade II is the lowest of three levels of protection for historic buildings. It is given to buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest."

St George's Today

Today, St George's Church is still an active United Reformed Church. It holds church services and many group activities. The church also offers morning coffee to everyone who visits.

See also

• Listed buildings in Southport