St Thomas' Church, Lydiate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas' Church, Lydiate |
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St Thomas' Church, Lydiate, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SD 363 057 |
| Location | Church Lane, Lydiate, Sefton, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Thomas, Lydiate |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 11 October 1968 |
| Architect(s) | A. H. Holme (?) Austin and Paley |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1839 |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lydiate and Downholland, St Thomas |
| Deanery | Ormskirk |
| Archdeaconry | Warrington |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Province | York |
St Thomas' Church is a church located in Lydiate, a town in Merseyside, England. It is an active Anglican parish church. This means it is a church that serves a specific local area for the Church of England. It is part of the diocese of Liverpool.
The church is also a special building. It is listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England. This listing means the building is important and needs to be protected because of its history or special design.
Contents
History of St Thomas' Church
When Was the Church Built?
The main part of St Thomas' Church was built between 1839 and 1841. It was likely designed by an architect named A. H. Holme. At first, it was a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built to help people who lived far from the main parish church attend services more easily.
Becoming Its Own Parish
In 1871, St Thomas' Church became its own separate parish. This meant it had its own dedicated area and community to serve.
Later Additions to the Church
More parts were added to the church in 1912. These additions included the chancel (the area around the altar), a small chapel on the south side, and a vestry (a room for clergy and choir) on the north side. These new sections were designed by architects Austin and Paley. The additions cost about £6,000 at the time, which was a very large sum of money back then!
Architecture of St Thomas' Church
What the Church is Made Of
St Thomas' Church is built from stone. Its roofs are made of slate, a type of rock that is good for roofing.
Layout of the Church
The church has a main area called the nave, which is where the people sit. It has four sections, or "bays." There is also the chancel, the south chapel, and the north vestry.
The West Tower
At the west end of the church, there is a tower. This tower has arched doorways on its west and south sides. On the north side, there is a tall, narrow window called a lancet window. The south side of the tower has a clock face. The top of the tower has a flat edge, called a parapet, with pointed decorations called pinnacles at each corner.
Windows and Ceilings
The windows in the nave are lancet windows. The large window at the east end of the church has three sections with detailed stone patterns, known as tracery. Other windows in the chancel and chapel have two sections, while the vestry windows have three.
Inside the church, there is a gallery at the west end. This gallery is supported by two strong iron columns. The nave has a flat ceiling, but the chancel has a rounded ceiling that looks like the inside of a barrel.
Inside Decorations
In the chancel, there is a special carved area called a sedilia, which is a seat for the clergy. There is also an alabaster reredos, which is a decorative screen behind the altar. The south window in the chancel has beautiful stained glass that was added in 1913.
See also
- Listed buildings in Lydiate
- List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1895–1914)
