St James' Church, West Derby, Liverpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James' Church, West Derby |
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Tower of St James' Church, West Derby
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| OS grid reference | SJ 394 927 |
| Location | Mill Lane, West Derby, Liverpool, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St James, West Derby |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 19 June 1985 |
| Architect(s) | Edward Welch, W. and J. Hay |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1845 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St James, West Derby |
| Deanery | West Derby |
| Archdeaconry | Liverpool |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St James' Church is located in Mill Lane, West Derby. This area is a suburb of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England. It used to be an active Anglican parish church. This means it was a local church for the Church of England community.
On June 23, 2019, the church's role changed. It was then handed over to the Indian Orthodox Church. The building is considered very important. English Heritage has given it a Grade II listed building status. This protects its special historical and architectural features.
Contents
The Story of St James' Church
How the Church Was Built
The church was designed by an architect named Edward Welch. Building started in 1845 and finished in 1846.
Later, between 1875 and 1876, some parts were changed. W. and J. Hay made the original short chancel (the area around the altar) bigger. They also added a room for the organ and a vestry (a room for clergy). A special round structure was built near the tower. This included a staircase to the tower and new steps to the gallery.
Changes Over Time
The church first had a tall, pointed spire. But this spire became unsafe. In 1970, it was taken down. A lower, pyramid-shaped roof replaced it.
In 1994, the inside of the church was updated. The old pews (long benches) were removed. A wall was put in to create a parish hall at the back. This hall is used for community events.
Looking at the Church's Design
Outside the Building
St James' Church is built from red sandstone. It faces north-south, but in church terms, it's often described as facing east-west.
The church has a long main hall called a nave. It also has north and south transepts, which are like arms extending from the sides. There's a chancel at the east end, with a small chapel and a vestry. At the west end is a tower with a baptistry (a place for baptisms) next to it.
The tower has three levels. It features a doorway on the west side. You can also see tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The bell openings have louvres, which are slanted slats. The tower is topped with a pyramid-shaped roof. More lancet windows are found along the sides of the church. The east end has five lancet windows. The roof also has dormers, which are windows that stick out.
Inside the Building
Inside, the former west gallery is now part of the parish hall. Many of the beautiful stained glass windows were made by artists like Carl Almquist, E. H. Jewitt, and W. J. Tipping. They all worked for a company called Shrigley and Hunt. The stained glass in the east end lancet windows is from 1876 and was made by William Wailes.
The church has a large pipe organ with three manuals (keyboards). It was built in 1869–70 by William Hill and Son. The organ was first in the west gallery. In 1876, it was moved to the chancel. It was rebuilt and made bigger by William Hill again in 1895.
The church also has a set of six bells. All of them were made in 1859 by George Mears at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
See Also
- Grade II listed buildings in Liverpool-L12
