St Mary's Church, Halton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Halton |
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St Mary's Church, Halton, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SJ 5373 8192 |
| Location | Halton, Runcorn, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary, Halton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Consecrated | 1852 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 23 April 1970 |
| Architect(s) | Sir George Gilbert Scott |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1852 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red sandstone, slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary, Halton |
| Deanery | Frodsham |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a special old church located in Halton, a village that is now part of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it is part of the Church of England. The church is listed as a Grade II building, which means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
History
For many centuries, a small chapel stood near Halton Castle. However, by the end of the English Civil War, this chapel was in ruins. It was a simple, square building with a small bell tower on one end. The people who used the chapel could not afford to fix it. They asked the bishop for money to help.
Enough money was given to rebuild the chapel, and it was used until the mid-1800s. By 1847, the roof needed big repairs. Four years later, everyone agreed that a brand new church was needed instead. Sir Richard Brooke of Norton Priory provided the money for the new church.
The famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott was chosen to design the building. The new St Mary's Church was officially opened on November 12, 1852. Halton Church used to be a "chapel of ease," which meant it was a smaller church connected to the main parish church in Runcorn. But in June 1860, St Mary's became its own separate parish.
A rich lawyer named Sir John Chesshyre helped build the house next to the church, called the vicarage, in 1739. He also funded the Chesshyre Library in 1733. This library was for the church leader and other educated people. Today, the library is a meeting room connected to the church hall.
Architecture
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is built from local red sandstone, and its roof is made of slate. The church has a main area called the nave with four sections. On each side of the nave are narrower walkways called aisles. There is also a porch on the south side.
The chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is, has a lower roof than the nave. On the east end of the nave roof, there is an eight-sided tower for the bell. To the north of the chancel is a room for the organ, and to the south is a special chapel built to remember people.
Inside the Church
The roofs inside the nave and chancel are shaped like the inside of a barrel, which is called a wagon roof. The screen behind the altar, known as the reredos, is made of marble. The wooden benches for the churchgoers have special carvings on their ends called poppyheads.
The beautiful stained glass window at the west end of the church was likely made around the 1850s by David Evans. Another stained glass window in the north aisle, from about 1893, was created by Henry Holiday. It shows a picture of Christ with children. There is also a window from around 1912 by George Wragge that shows the story of the Good Samaritan.
A monument remembering Sir Richard Brooke, from 1889, was made by Douglas and Fordham. It is a stone tablet with a cross design surrounded by carved leaves.
See also
- List of new churches by George Gilbert Scott in Northern England
- Listed buildings in Runcorn (urban area)
