St Marie's Church, Widnes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Marie's Church, Widnes |
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St Marie's Church, Widnes
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| OS grid reference | SJ 513 851 |
| Location | Widnes, Halton, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | December 2006 |
| Architect(s) | E. W. Pugin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1862 |
| Completed | 1865 |
St Marie's Church is a beautiful old building in Lugsdale Road, Widnes, Cheshire, England. It used to be a Roman Catholic church, but it's not used for church services anymore. This special building is recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's important and protected.
Contents
History of St Marie's Church
Why St Marie's Was Built
Back in the 1800s, many people from Ireland came to Widnes. They came to work in the big chemical factories there. St Marie's Church was built between 1862 and 1865 to give these new families a place to worship.
Opening and Recognition
The church first opened its doors in 1865. It was designed by an architect named E. W. Pugin. In December 2006, St Marie's was officially listed as a Grade II building. This means it's a historic place that needs to be preserved.
What Happened Next
Even though it's a special building, the church stopped holding services in early 2007. It has been placed on the "Buildings at Risk" list by a group called Save Britain's Heritage. Another group, the Victorian Society, even said it was one of the ten most endangered Victorian buildings in Britain.
A New Purpose for the Church
Good news came in 2012! The church received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money helped to start turning the church into a new place for Halton and St Helens Voluntary Action. This means the building will be used to help the community.
Architecture of St Marie's Church
Looking at the Outside
St Marie's Church is built with red bricks and has special sandstone decorations. It also has blue brick stripes and a roof made of Welsh slate. The church has one main section. The main part of the church, called the nave, has a rounded end at the east side. There are also seven side sections, called bays, with lower roofs.
At the front of the church, on the gable (the triangular part of the wall), there's a small tower for a bell, called a bellcote. It has a cross on top. At the front, there are three tall, narrow windows, called lancet windows, above two doors. The side sections have strong supports, called buttresses, between them. Each side section has two lancet windows.
On the north side, there's an arched doorway. Above the arch, there's a mosaic (a picture made of small colored pieces) that says "I am the Immaculate Conception." At the back of the church, the side sections end in gables with round openings and crosses on top. Each part of the rounded end of the church has two lancet windows.
Exploring the Inside
Inside the church, there are rows of arches, called arcades, that separate the main area from the side sections. These arches are held up by thin pillars, called piers. At the front of the church, there's a balcony that holds the organ.
At the end of both side sections, there's an altar. The ceiling of the rounded end of the church has beautiful paintings and stenciled designs. The main altar area has a very fancy alabaster screen, called a reredos. It has paintings with gold backgrounds that show scenes like the Nativity (Jesus' birth), the Annunciation (when Mary was told she would have Jesus), and the Assumption (Mary going to heaven). These paintings are thought to be by J. A. Pippet.
In front of the screen, there's a beautifully carved altar and a special seat for blessings, called a benediction throne. It has an amazing roof-like structure, called a canopy, above it. The church also has a large pipe organ with two keyboards, made around 1880 by Wadsworth of Manchester.
See also
- Listed buildings in Widnes
