St Mary's Church, Widnes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Widnes |
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| St. Mary's Church, West Bank, Widnes | |
St Mary's Church, Widnes, from the West
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| OS grid reference | SJ 513,838 |
| Location | Widnes, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | St Mary, Widnes |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Consecrated | 1910 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 31 October 1983 |
| Architect(s) | Austin and Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1908 |
| Completed | 1910 |
| Construction cost | £16,669 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 770 |
| Length | 1,785 feet (544 m) |
| Width | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Nave width | 25.5 feet (8 m) |
| Materials | Red sandstone Roofs of Ruabon tiles and lead |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary, Widnes |
| Deanery | Widnes |
| Archdeaconry | Warrington |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a beautiful old church located in the West Bank area of Widnes, Cheshire, England. It is a very important building, listed as Grade II* (which means it is a special historic place). This church is still active today, serving as a parish church for the local community. It is part of the Anglican Church of England. Many people consider it a "masterpiece" designed by the famous architects Austin and Paley.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The first church in West Bank was also called St Mary's. It opened in 1858. This first church was never fully finished. It was built on ground that contained chemical waste. This caused the walls to bulge and the roof to twist.
In the early 1900s, a new location was found for a church. Money was raised to build a brand new one. The first stone for the new church was laid on May 14, 1908. The church officially opened its doors on November 12, 1910. The well-known architects Austin and Paley designed the building. The total cost was £16,669, which included money for the land. The church was built to seat 770 people.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is built using red sandstone with flecks of other colors. The roof over the main part of the church (the nave) is made of special Ruabon tiles. The roofs over the side sections (the aisles) are made of lead.
The church has a unique shape. It includes a tall central area called a clerestory and side sections called aisles. There is a tower at the west end. The church also has north and south transepts, which are like arms extending from the main body. A special entrance porch is set at an angle on the northwest side. The church is built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic, which means it has tall, slender features.
Inside the Church
The furniture inside the church is made of oak wood. The architects, Austin and Paley, designed all of it. The baptismal font, used for baptisms, is made from Darley Dale stone.
The large stained glass window at the east end shows pictures of the Ascension (Jesus going to heaven). It also shows an "Apocalyptic Vision," which is a scene from the Bible about the end times. The company Shrigley and Hunt created this beautiful window. The church also has a large pipe organ with three keyboards. It was built in 1902 and later improved between 1936 and 1947.
Special Outdoor Features
There is a special octagonal (eight-sided) pulpit built into the wall outside the church. This "wayside pulpit" was also designed by Austin and Paley. It is made of red sandstone and has six steps leading up to it. Carved into the stone is a message from the Bible: "Go out into the highways and compel them to come in that my house may be filled." This quote is from the book of Luke (chapter 14, verse 23). This outdoor pulpit is also a listed building, recognized for its historical importance.
