St Nicholas Church, Whiston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Nicholas Church, Whiston
St Nicholas Church from the west
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OS grid reference	SJ 467 903
Location	Windy Arbour Road, Whiston, Merseyside
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Evangelical
Website	St Nicholas, Whiston
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Saint Nicholas
Consecrated	30 July 1868
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	28 January 1971
Architect(s)	G. E. Street
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival (Early English)
Groundbreaking	1864
Completed	1868
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, slate roofs
Administration
Parish	St Nicholas, Whiston
Deanery	Huyton
Archdeaconry	Liverpool
Diocese	Liverpool
Province	York

St Nicholas Church is located in Whiston, Merseyside, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. The church was built between 1864 and 1868. It was designed by a famous architect named G. E. Street.

The church is built in the Early English Gothic style, which is a type of architecture from the Middle Ages. An interesting fact is that its tower was never fully finished. This was because people worried the ground might sink due to coal mining in the area. Inside, the church has beautiful stained glass windows. Some of these were designed by well-known artists like William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.

St Nicholas Church is also a "Grade II listed building." This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.

History of St Nicholas Church

This church was built from 1864 to 1868. It was designed by the architect G. E. Street. The church was officially opened on July 30, 1868.

There were plans to add more decoration to the top of the church tower. However, these plans were never carried out. People were concerned that the extra weight might cause the tower to sink. This was because there were coal mines nearby, which could make the ground unstable.

What Does the Church Look Like?

Outside the Church

St Nicholas Church is built in the Early English Gothic style. It uses sandstone for its walls and has slate roofs. The church has a main area called the nave. It also has side sections called aisles and a special area for the altar called the chancel. There's also a small room for the organ and a chapel.

The church has a tower at the southwest corner. This tower has three main parts and strong supports called buttresses. The tower's top is flat and made of lead. You enter the church through a door on the south side of the tower. Most of the windows are tall, narrow ones called lancets. Some windows are in pairs with a round shape above them. There is also a large round window, called a rose window, on the west side of the church.

Inside the Church

Inside, the church has rows of arches that separate the main nave from the side aisles. These arches rest on round pillars. The floor is covered with decorative tiles.

There is a low stone screen in front of the chancel. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is also made of stone. The seats for the choir are decorated with carved designs.

In the chancel, there is a painted screen behind the altar called a reredos. This is surrounded by carved decorations and patterned wall tiles. The stained glass in the main east window shows the Crucifixion.

The Lady Chapel has a beautiful stained glass window designed by William Morris. It shows angels playing music. The large rose window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones. Other windows were made by a company called Morris & Co..

The church has a large pipe organ. The first organ was installed in 1873. A newer, larger organ was put in place in 1934. This organ has two keyboards and 26 different sounds, called stops.

Why is St Nicholas Church Important?

On January 28, 1971, St Nicholas Church was officially named a Grade II listed building. This means it is considered "nationally important and of special interest." It's one of the three levels of protection for historic buildings in England.

Experts in architecture have described the church as "an earnest work of architecture." This means it was built with great care and purpose, not just to look fancy.

St Nicholas Church Today

Today, St Nicholas Church is still an active Anglican parish church. It is part of the diocese of Liverpool. The church follows an Evangelical style of worship.

The church holds regular services every Sunday. It also hosts other events for the community. The church helps people with important life events like baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

See also

• Listed buildings in Whiston, Merseyside