St Peter's Church, Birkdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church |
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St Peter's Church
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 St Peter's Church
Location in Southport
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| 53°37′56″N 3°00′36″W / 53.6321°N 3.0099°W | |
| OS grid reference | SD 333 155 |
| Location | St Peter's Road, Birkdale, Southport, Sefton, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Architect(s) | T. D. Barry and Sons |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival (Decorated) |
| Groundbreaking | 1870 |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Peter, Birkdale |
| Deanery | North Meols |
| Archdeaconry | Warrington |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St Peter's Church is a beautiful old church located on St Peter's Road in Birkdale, Southport, Sefton, Merseyside, England. It's an active Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. The building of the church began in 1870. More parts were added in 1886–87 and again in 1907.
The church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style looks like the grand churches from the Middle Ages. St Peter's Church is considered a special building. It is listed as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church was designed by a company called T. D. Barry and Sons. The first part of the church was built between 1870 and 1871. Later, in 1886–87, a tower with a porch was added to the church. Then, in 1907, more sections called transepts were built. The area around the altar, known as the chancel, was also rebuilt at that time.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The church is made from sandstone blocks. Its roofs are covered with slate tiles in shades of red and purple. The church's design is in the Decorated style, which is known for its fancy windows and carvings.
The church has a main hall called a nave. It also has side sections called aisles on the north and south. There are also parts that stick out on the sides, known as transepts. The area near the altar is the chancel, with small rooms called vestries on either side.
A tall tower stands in front of the south aisle. This tower has three main levels. It has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. There is also a small spiral staircase, called a stair turret, on the northwest side.
At the bottom of the tower, there is an arched doorway on the south side. This leads into a porch. The middle part of the tower has narrow, tall windows called lancet windows. The very top level has openings with wooden slats, called louvred bell openings, where the church bells are.
At the very top of the tower, there is a decorative wall called a parapet. This wall has holes in it. There are also stone carvings of strange creatures, called gargoyles, at the corners. Pointed decorations, called crocketed pinnacles, also rise from the corners.
The windows in the side aisles have two sections. The windows in the transepts have three sections. Along the upper part of the nave, called the clerestory, there are round windows shaped like four-leaf clovers. Both the front (west) and back (east) windows are very large. They have detailed stone patterns, called tracery. The west window has four sections, and the east window has five.
Inside the Church
Inside St Peter's Church, you'll see rows of arches, called arcades. These arches are supported by tall, polished granite pillars, known as piers. The tops of these pillars, called capitals, are carved with beautiful plant designs.
The screen behind the altar, called the reredos, and the altar itself were made in 1908. They are decorated with paintings of angels on a shiny gold background. These paintings are set within carved frames. You can also see more paintings of angels on the east wall. The church also has carved wooden furniture for the choir. This furniture includes a built-in case for the organ.
The church has many beautiful stained glass windows. One window at the west end is a memorial for the First World War. It shows a picture of Saint George. In the south aisle, there is another window from the late 1800s. It was made by an artist named Reuben Bennett.
Why St Peter's Church is Special
St Peter's Church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on July 29, 1999. Buildings with this special status are considered "nationally important and of special interest." Grade II is the most common listing grade. It means the building is important enough to be protected.
St Peter's Church Today
St Peter's is still a very active Anglican church. It is part of the diocese of Liverpool. The church holds services on Sundays and during the week. It also hosts many different group activities at its parish centre.
See also
- Listed buildings in Birkdale
