Old Churches

	The Ancient Chapel of Toxteth One of Liverpool's half dozen oldest buildings, the original chapel (since modified) was built sometime between 1604 and 1618. It has always been associated with non-conformist religion and became a presbyterian meeting-house in 1672. This was an isolated rural community at the time that could get away with such sympathies, though surprisingly the land was donated by the catholic Molyneux family.
	The Ancient Chapel of Toxteth
	Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree Holy Trinity dates from 1794 and was described by John Betjeman as 'Liverpool's best Georgian church'. Its construction marks the arrival of rich merchants' habitats in the area at this time.
	All Saints Church, Childwall Parts of this beautiful church in Childwall Village date back to the 14th century, though some of the building materials have Norman or even Anglo-Saxon origins, and there has been ongoing building work down to the present day. There was probably a chapel here in the 11th century. The current name is probably of relatively recent origin; a document from the 14th century suggests that the church was dedicated to St. Peter at that time. It is Liverpool's oldest parish church and the only one with mediaeval origins.
	All Saints Churchyard The churchyard at All Saints is a profoundly peaceful and atmospheric place. It was first mentioned in a document of 1386. The oldest of the present gravestones is dated 1620.

	The Old Tower, St. Hilary's Church, Wallasey St. Hilary's is the parish church of Wallasey. A notice outside proclaims that there has been worship here for 1400 years and the present (1859) church is believed to be the sixth on the site. There was probably a timber Saxon church before the year 902, when the Vikings named the hamlet Kirby in Walea meaning 'the village with the church on the island of the Britons'. Several stones have been found of a Norman structure, thought to date from 1162-1182, on the site. This was rebuilt and a tower added during the reigns of Edward I and Edward II. The next rebuilding was in the 16th century, when the tower was reconstructed in 1530. In 1757, the church was in ruins and was rebuilt. This fifth church burnt down in 1857, but the tower is the one that still stands alone in the churchyard. There are only eight churches in Britain named after the French Bishop of Poitiers, St. Hilary. It is likely that these churches were founded by another French Bishop, St Germanus, who came from near Poitiers and who was invited as a missionary by the 5th century English church.
	St Oswald's Church, Bidston There is evidence of earlier curches on this site going back to the 12th century, when Birkenhead Priory was founded, or earlier. The church was rebuilt in the 13th century and the tower added in the early 16th century. This tower survives but the remainder of the present building dates mainly from the rebuilding of 1855-6.
	Holy Cross Church, Woodchurch This beautiful church is located in a tiny time warp at the centre of the large post-war suburban development of Woodchurch. The approach to the Tudor porch along a path with densely overarching yew trees is magical. There was probably a church here in Saxon times, but the oldest part of the present building is the 12th century nave. The south aisle and tower are 14th century, though the oddly oversized butresses to the outside corners were added in 1675. The main aisle and porch are 16th century.
	St. Andrew's Church, Bebington There was a church on this site before the Norman Conquest. Some of the stones, which are of sandstone from the Storeton quarry, survive in the south wall of the present church. The curve of the adjacent road follows the boundary of an ancient circular burial ground (Viking settlers believed that corners were hiding places for evil spirits). A new church was built in Norman times; the area was then known as Whitchurch from the creamy colour of the stone used. A tower was added during the first half of the 14th century, when other extensions were also undertaken. Part of the south arcade survives from the Norman church and the north arcade is a copy of this from 1847. The chancel and chapels were built in the 16th century in a contrasting Perpendicular style (the nave is mainly Early Decorated style). The final structure was to have been more integrated, but work was interrupted by the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The contrast is also evident inside: the east end has cathedral-like proportions and large windows, while the earlier part seems more like a mediaeval village church.
	St. Bridget's Church, West Kirby Although much altered over the centuries, the oldest identifiable parts of St. Bridget's church are parts of the chancel, vestry east bay and north aisle, dating from the early 14th century. The tower is mainly early 16th century, built around an older core. Presumably there had been a much earlier church on the site as attested by the Viking name 'Kirkby'.
	St. Bartholomew's Church, Thurstaston A timeless setting in the tiny hamlet of Thurstaston. There have been two earlier churches here. The first was Norman, dating from 1125 at the latest, possibly much earlier. This was demolished in 1820 and nothing remains of it. The second church, an undistinguished structure, was pulled down in 1886 when the current church was completed. The tower is still standing and the rest of the stone was used to build the churchyard wall.
	St. Nicholas's Church, Burton There was a Norman church here dating from the 12th century, stones from which have been dug up in the churchyard and are preserved in the porch and beneath the tower. Built into one of the walls of the tower is a coffin lid dating from the 13th century, which is decorated with a foliated cross.The Massey chapel (named after the local Puddington family) with its surviving east window was erected in 1380 and the remainder of the present church was built in 1721 (the chancel was rebuilt in 1870). It is built of red sandstone and stands in a prominent position on the hillside above the village of Burton.
	St. Michaels's Church, Shotwick It is likely that there was a Saxon church, of which nothing remains, in Shotwick. A Norman church was in existence at the time of the Domesday Book and the oldest parts of the present church of St. Michael (the arch of the south doorway and the wall up to the first buttress) date from around this time. Rebuilding took place in the 14th and 15th centuries and the present tower dates from 1500. The porch bears deep grooves used in olden days for sharpening arrows for archery practice following Sunday Mass.
	St. Michaels's Church Interior, Shotwick The beautiful interior of St. Michael's (the church is normally left open) boasts a number of antiques including a curious three-decker pulpit, the churchwardens' pew of 1673 (they were the only ones provided with seating at that time!), the mid-17th century altar rails and the box pews of 1710.
	St. Cuthbert's Church, Halsall The church of St. Cuthbert dates from about 1320, probably replacing an earlier church, and stands on slightly higher ground, along with most of the older habitations. The 126 ft (38 m) tower and spire were added in about 1400, though the present spire is a more recent replacement.
	St. Helen's Church, Sefton St. Helen's, or Sefton Church as it is often called, is based upon a Norman church, the private chapel of the Molyneux family, dating from 1170. The original church, not much of which remains, was added to over the centuries, with the spire appearing around 1320. It was substantially in its present form by 1550; gravestones date back to the 17th century.
	St. Helen's Church, Sefton The interior of the church contains much early woodwork including the three screens visible here, dating from the early 16th century, an octagonal pulpit from 1635, a muniments chest ca. 1350 and many carvings. There are brass monuments to Tudor members of the Molyneux family, but the oldest is that to Sir William Molyneux (d.1290). There is also a 1596 bible. A notable rector in Tudor times was the aptly named Parson Nutter, called The Golden Ass by Elizabeth I because of his wealth and ignorance, who wasn't known for his application to the job but nevertheless left a huge hoard of gold under his deathbed.
	St Catherine's Chapel, Lydiate The chapel was built for the Ireland family, lords of the manor of Lydiate for 400 years, in the late 15th century. The work was begun by Lawrence Ireland I who married Catherine Blundell of Little Crosby; the chapel is dedicated to her name-saint. It suffered damage during the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-40) but continued to be used in secret by Roman Catholic recusants, who put up a strong resistance in this area. This haunting ruin among the trees held a sombre fascination for me as a child, when I joined others, including Lawrence and Catherine, in carving my initials in the stonework. I'm blowed if I can find them now though.
	The Ancient Chapel of Maghull This is all that remains (the chancel and the north-aisle chapel or Lady Chapel) of the early 13th century church, now known as the Ancient Chapel of Maghull, in the grounds of the present St. Andrew's church. It was modified and extended significantly in 1755 and again in 1830. This later work was demolished when work began on the new church in 1878 and some of the stone was reused for the porch; the west and south walls of the chapel were rebuilt to provide a completed building and the roof was relaid with the original slates. It is the oldest ecclesiastical building still in constant religious use on Merseyside.
	St. Mary's Church, Hale The village of Hale dates from Anglo-Saxon times. It is still an attractive and tranquil place with many old whitewashed cottages. St. Mary's church stands on the site of an earlier church dating back to 1081. The present church dates from 1754, though the tower is 14th century. It was rebuilt internally in 1981 following a fire in 1977.
	St. Lukes Church, Farnworth The first church was founded here in around 1180. Originally dedicated to St Wilfrid, it only assumed its present name in 1859. The first extension was about 1280-1300, when the north aisle was added. Between 1360 and 1380 the south aisle was added and around this time the tower was also built. The Chapel was added in 1406 and in 1431 the east end was extended. In 1500 the Cuerdley chapel was added to the south of the church.
	All Saints Church, Daresbury There was a chapel belonging to Norton Priory on this site in the 12th century. This was replaced by a stone church around 1550, of which the tower remains. The rest of the present church dates from 1870-2.
	Lewis Carroll Window, All Saints, Daresbury Daresbury is perhaps most famous for its association with Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, alias Lewis Carroll, in 1832. He was born in the parsonage at Newton-by-Daresbury, the son of the minister at All Saints and achieved international fame through his books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. In the church is the famous Lewis Carroll Memorial Window . To mark the centenary of his birth Carroll enthusiasts from all over the world subscribed to a memorial fund, which resulted in the gift of this striking and unusual stained glass window, designed by Geoffrey Webb and dedicated in 1935. The main panels depict a Nativity scene with the figures of Carroll and Alice in the left-hand one. Beneath are panels featuring characters from the books, from left to right: White Rabbit, the Lizard, the Dodo, the Caterpillar, the Fish-Footman, the Mad Hatter, the Dormouse, the March Hare, the Duchess, the Gryphon, the Mock Turtle and the Knave and Queen of Hearts with the Cheshire Cat.
	All Saints Church Interior, Daresbury The church seems to be generally open for visitors and is well worth a visit. The interior is particularly fine, with lovely stained glass and a Jacobean pulpit.
	St. Lawrence's Church, Frodsham There was a church on this site at the time of the Domesday Book, though the earliest parts of the present church, constructed from beautiful local sandstone, date from about 1180. The tower is 14th century, at which time the chancel was also lengthened; further building work was done in the 16th century and after. There are some Saxon and Norman carved stones inside the tower and the nave is said to be one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Cheshire.
	St. Lawrence's Church, Frodsham
	The Church of St. James the Great, Ince IThe Church of St. James the Great is built on the site of a Norman chapel, no trace of which remains. The present church dates from the early 16th century, though the tower and part of the chancel are all that remain of this; the remainder dates from a major rebuilding in 1854. The area is rich in ecclesiastical associations, the remains of the historic Cistercian abbey of Stanlow, founded in 1178, being nearby at Stanlow Point. It must have been a lonely spot then, but is hardly less isolated now, being inaccessible to the public situated as it is between the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey.
	St. Peter's Church, Plemstall There are records of a church here as far back as the 7th century, when the Mersey used to flood the surrounding land and the locality (barely elevated) was known as the Isle of Chester. A legend, perhaps of the 5th or 6th century, tells of a shipwrecked fisherman who, on finding refuge here, built a church as an act of thanksgiving, dedicating it to St Peter the fisherman. Although the surrounding land has been drained, the church still stands in an amazingly isolated location. The name Plemstall or Plegmundstall ('the habitation of Plegmund'), derives from an eponymous 9th century scholar who took refuge from the Danes as a hermit on the Isle of Chester. He became tutor to King Alfred and assisted him in the consolidation of his kingdom; he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 890 and is buried in Canterbury Cathedral. The original church was 12th century, but the present sandstone building is mainly 15th century. The tower was added in 1826. Most of the original glass has gone, but there are fragments from the 14th century. In a display case in the north aisle are a Breeches Bible of 1608, a King James Bible of 1611, a folio edition of the bible printed by Edward Whitchurche in 1549, a black letter bible of 1549 and a King James Bible of 1623.
	St. Mary's Church, Thornton-le-Moors A chapel was present on the site of St. Mary's in Saxon times and is recorded in the Domesday Book. The nave, chancel, south aisle and south door of the present sandstone church (formerly dedicated to St Helen) date from the 14th century and the chancel retains its medieval hammerbeam roof. A chapel (the Elton Chapel) was added in the 16th century. The tower also dates from this time, but was damaged by fire in 1909 and rebuilt in 1910. A south porch was added in the late 17th century and a full restoration was carried out in 1878. Inside, the altar rails and altar table are dated 1694 and here are two 17th century fonts and a mediaeval piscina.
	Ancient and Modern at Thornton-le-Moors
	St. Lawrence's Church, Stoak The little village of Stoak is these days entirely encircled by motorways and the Shropshire Union Canal. A Saxon chapel was originally on the site and fragments of architecture still present in the 19th century showed that a new church must have been built soon after the Norman conquest. Sources from the 14th century speak of 'a sumptuous fabric of stone and wood, of great size, with four bells, [...] then becoming ruinous'. The present church of St. Lawrence dates the rebuilding of 1827, though the north wall and the Tudor hammerbeam roof of the nave were left largely intact.
	St. Lawrence's Church, Stoak