St Nicholas Church, Wallasey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Church, Wallasey |
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St Nicholas Church
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 St Nicholas Church, Wallasey
Location in Merseyside
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| 53°25′46″N 3°04′18″W / 53.4294°N 3.0716°W | |
| Location | Newport Avenue, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Nicholas, Wallasey |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 21 July 2005 |
| Architect(s) | J. F. Doyle |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1910 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Construction cost | £15,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | Up to 700 |
| Length | 128 feet 6 inches (39.2 m) |
| Width | 54 feet (16.5 m) |
| Spire height | 75 feet (22.9 m) (tower) |
| Materials | Storeton sandstone Yorkshire stone flag roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wallasey St Nicholas with All Saints |
| Deanery | Wallasey |
| Archdeaconry | Chester |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
St Nicholas Church is an active Anglican parish church located in Wallasey, England. A parish church is a local church that serves a specific community area. This beautiful church was designed by J. F. Doyle and built between 1910 and 1911.
You can find St Nicholas Church on Newport Avenue in Wallasey, which is part of Wirral in Merseyside. Because it's close to Wallasey Golf Club, many people call it the "Golfers' Church." It's also known as the Harrison Memorial Church. The church is a very important building, listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's considered nationally important and has special historical or architectural interest.
Contents
History of St Nicholas Church
How the Church Was Built
The money to build St Nicholas Church came from the wealthy Harrison family, who lived in the local area. They wanted to create a lasting memorial. The church was designed by J. F. Doyle, a famous architect from Liverpool.
The first stone, called the foundation stone, was laid by a member of the Harrison family on 26 April 1910. The entire building project cost about £15,000, which was a very large sum of money back then! Once finished, the church could seat up to 700 people.
When the Church Opened
The church was officially opened and blessed on 29 November 1911. This special ceremony was led by the Rt Revd Francis Jayne, who was the Bishop of Chester at the time.
As mentioned, the church is known by two special names: the Harrison Memorial Church, because of the family who funded it, and the Golfers' Church, because it's so close to the Wallasey Golf Club.
Architecture and Design
What the Church Looks Like from Outside
St Nicholas Church is built from Storeton sandstone, a type of stone, and its roof is covered with large, flat Yorkshire stone flags. Interestingly, the church is built in the opposite direction from most churches. Usually, the main altar is at the east end, but here, the chancel (the area around the altar) is at the west end.
Because the church is built on sand, it has a special base made of steel and concrete. This helps to keep the building stable. The church has a cross-shaped layout, which is common for many large churches. It has a central tower right where the arms of the cross meet, called the crossing.
The church also has a long main hall called the nave, and the chancel at the end. Both of these areas have clerestories, which are upper levels with windows to let in light. On either side of the nave are north and south aisles. There are also north and south transepts (the "arms" of the cross shape), and porches at the north and south entrances. The church also includes a south Lady Chapel and a north vestry (a room for changing into robes).
The central tower has openings with louvred slats for the bells, and a battlemented top, which looks like the top of a castle wall. There's also a round stair tower on the northwest corner. The windows feature beautiful curvy stone patterns called tracery.
Look closely at the church's exterior, and you'll see amazing carvings by Norbury and Sons. These carvings are found around the doors, windows, and along the sides of the church. They include detailed pictures of King George V and Queen Mary, as well as King Edward I and Queen Eleanor. You can also spot carvings of plants, seaweed, a dragon, and even a medieval monk!
What the Church Looks Like Inside
Inside St Nicholas Church, you'll see rows of arches called arcades. These arches are supported by columns, or piers, that have a special four-leaf shape called quatrefoil. The tops of these columns, called capitals, are decorated with carvings. These carvings show symbols of the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), a ship, an anchor, seaweed, and the emblems of Saint Nicholas.
Other carvings inside the church include figures of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Saint Peter, and Saint Nicholas himself. In the chancel, you'll find carvings of cherubs and angels. There are also wooden corbels (supporting brackets) carved with seaweed, fish, a cross, an anchor, a heart, and a crown.
Special Features and Artworks
The large wooden screen behind the altar, called the reredos, was also designed by Doyle. It stands about 15 feet (4.6 m) tall and is very detailed. The central part shows Christ on the cross, with the Virgin Mary and Saint John on either side. The panels on the outside show angels. The decorative structure above it, called a canopy, is also very detailed with pointed towers (pinnacles), hook-like decorations (crockets), and open, lacy patterns.
The lectern, where readings are given, is shaped like an eagle. Its base stands on the backs of three lions. The pulpit, from which sermons are delivered, is reached by seven steps and has carved panels. The wooden font, used for baptisms, stands on two steps. It has an eight-sided bowl on a four-leaf shaped shaft, and its panels are carved with symbols related to baptism.
There are two special screens in the church, each built to remember those who served in the World Wars. The beautiful stained glass windows were made by Shrigley and Hunt, based on designs by Carl Almquist, E. H. Jewitt, and others.
In the north transept, you'll find the Harrison Window. This window shows Jesus preaching from a boat and the amazing story of the draught of fishes. On the north side, there's a war memorial window showing a fallen soldier wearing a kilt, with Reims Cathedral in the background. Another window, known as the Parkin Window or the Golfers' Window, even shows golfers with their golf bags and famous Liverpool landmarks!
The church has a ring of eight bells. Six of these bells were made in 1911 by John Warner & Sons. The other two were added later, in 1977, by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The church also has a large three-manual pipe organ that was built in 1911 by John Nicholson of Worcester. This organ has been updated twice, once around 1975 and again around 1995.
Why the Church is Important
St Nicholas Church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on 21 July 2005. This means it's considered a building of special national importance and interest. Grade II is the most common listing grade, used for buildings that are very important to England's heritage.
St Nicholas Church Today
Today, St Nicholas Church is still a very active Anglican parish church. It is part of the deanery of Wallasey, the archdeaconry of Chester, and the diocese of Chester. You can find it right next to Wallasey Golf Club.
Church services are held every Sunday. In December 2022, the church offered support to people affected by a sad event, the Wallasey pub shooting, because it was only a five-minute walk from where the incident happened. On 25 January 2023, the funeral for Elle Edwards, the only person who died in the shooting, was held at the church.
See also
- Listed buildings in Wallasey
