St James' Church, Birkenhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, Birkenhead |
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St James' Church, Birkenhead, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 297 900 |
| Location | Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Open Evangelical |
| Website | St James, Birkenhead |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 28 March 1974 |
| Architect(s) | C. E. Lang, Walter Scott |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1845 |
| Completed | 1858 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. James with St. Bede, Birkenhead |
| Deanery | Birkenhead |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St James' Church is a beautiful old church located in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. It is still an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. This church is very important, so it's listed as a Grade II listed building. This means it's a special historic place that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St James' Church
The design for St James' Church was created by an architect named C. E. Lang. Building started in 1845. At that time, the area around the church was mostly new docks being built in Birkenhead. There weren't many other big buildings nearby yet. The church took a while to finish. It was finally completed in 1858 by another architect, Walter Scott.
What Does St James' Church Look Like?
St James' Church is built from stone and has a roof made of slate. It's designed in a style called Early English Gothic, which was popular for churches a long time ago.
Outside the Church
The church has a main central area called a nave. On either side of the nave are long hallways called aisles. Above the aisles, there's a row of windows called a clerestory, which lets in light. The church also has parts that stick out on the sides, known as transepts. At the front, there's a chancel, which is where the altar is.
There's a tall tower with a pointed top, called a spire, on the northwest side. At the very front of the church, you can see strong supports called buttresses. There are also three tall, narrow windows, known as lancet windows, and a round window above them, called a rose window.
Along the sides of the church, you'll see more buttresses that separate the different sections. Each section has a wide lancet window. The clerestory windows are grouped in threes. The transepts have pairs of lancet windows with a four-leaf clover shape, called a quatrefoil, above them. There are also flying buttresses connecting parts of the church. The chancel has pairs of lancet windows, and three stepped lancet windows at the very east end.
The tower has three main parts. It has strong buttresses that go all the way up. There's a doorway on the north side of the tower with two lancet windows above it. The openings where the bells are located have three arches. The spire has small windows called lucarnes.
Inside the Church
Inside St James' Church, you'll see rows of arches, called arcades, supported by round columns. The tops of these columns, called capitals, are decorated with rings or leaf shapes.
In the chancel, there's a beautiful wooden screen behind the altar, called a reredos. There's another reredos in the south transept. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is made of stone and has eight sides. The font, used for baptisms, is made of marble and stands on a floor with a mosaic pattern.
At the west end of the church, there's a wooden screen. The colourful stained glass window at the east end was made in 1913. It shows Jesus with two important figures, Saints James and John. The church also has a large pipe organ with three keyboards, built in 1907.
More to Explore
- Listed buildings in Birkenhead
