St Mary's Church, Walton-on-the-Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Walton-on-the-Hill |
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St Mary's from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SJ 359 948 |
| Location | Walton, Liverpool, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Modern Catholic |
| Website | St Mary, Walton-on-the-Hill |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 28 June 1952 |
| Architect(s) | John Broadbent (tower) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Walton-on-the-Hill |
| Deanery | Walton |
| Archdeaconry | Liverpool |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a historic church located in Walton, Liverpool, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. St Mary's is an important local church and is listed as a Grade II building, which means it's a special historic place. It works together with other local churches as part of the Walton Team Ministry.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
St Mary's was once the main church for a large area called the Hundred of West Derby. This area eventually included the city of Liverpool. Records show a church has been on this spot since the time of the Domesday Book, which was written way back in 1086!
The church building has changed a lot over the years. The original church was rebuilt in 1326. Later, parts like the main hall (called the nave) were rebuilt in 1741. The front part (the chancel) was rebuilt in 1810.
The oldest part you see today is the tall west tower. It was built between 1829 and 1832. In 1911, more sections were added, including a side aisle and a chapel.
Sadly, most of the church was destroyed by bombs during World War II in 1941. Only the tower survived. But the community worked hard to rebuild it. The main part of the church was rebuilt between 1947 and 1953. They kept the outside looking similar but created a new inside. Today, visitors can explore its history, including parts that date back to the Norman times.
Church Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church has a main hall (nave) with entrances on the north and south sides. It also has a side aisle, a chancel, and a vestry. The tall west tower is built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic.
The tower has strong supports called buttresses that go up to pointed tops called pinnacles. It has windows with three sections and a clock face on each side. At the very top, there are openings for bells and a decorative wall called a parapet. The east end of the church has a large window with five sections.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has strong, curved ceilings made of concrete and steel. At the west end, there's a stone balcony supported by three arches.
In the chapel, you can see a special screen behind the altar called a reredos. It has a copy of a famous painting called Deposition of Christ by Fra Angelico. This copy was made in 1860.
One of the most interesting items is the old stone font, which is used for baptisms. It's from the Norman period (around 1066-1154 AD) and is circular with carved pictures from the Bible. This font was broken during the 1941 bombing but was carefully put back together. The stained glass windows in the church were also designed by the person who restored the font. You can also find a small piece of an even older Anglo-Saxon cross shaft at the east end of the church.
Features Around the Church
There are several interesting historical features outside St Mary's Church, all also listed as Grade II historic structures.
The stone wall around the churchyard was built in the 1800s. It has three entrances with stone pillars. One of these entrances still has its original iron decoration and a lantern.
In the west part of the wall, there's a red granite drinking fountain. This fountain was added in 1861 and was paid for by Charles Pierre Melly. It's one of the very first public drinking fountains in England!
To the south of the church, you'll find a sundial from the late 1600s or early 1700s. It has a decorative stand, but the part that casts the shadow (the gnomon) is missing.
On the east wall of the churchyard, there's the front part of an old hearse house. This building, where horse-drawn carriages for funerals were kept, dates from the early 1800s. It has a pointed entrance and a decorative top. Next to it is the front part of a former mortuary, also from the early 1800s. It has a triangular top called a pediment.
See also
- Grade II listed buildings in Liverpool-L4
- Walton Hall, Liverpool
