St Cuthberts Church, (Churchtown)
Encyclopedia
St Cuthbert's Church is an Anglican
church in Churchtown, Merseyside, a village that is now a suburb of Southport
in the English county of Merseyside
. It is an active parish church
in the Diocese of Liverpool
and the archdeaconry of Warrington. It has been designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage. Historically, St Cuthbert's was the parish church of the ecclesiastical parish of North Meols
and was within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire
.
(d. 1154). It was the parish church
of the ecclesiastical parish of North Meols
, in the historic county of Lancashire
. The current church was built 1730–39 to replace the original structure, which had burned down. Alterations were made in 1806. In 1908–09, architect Isaac Taylor extensively restored the church, leaving little trace of the 1806 work. The chancel
dates form this restoration.
St Cuthberts is a Grade II listed building. The church has some very interesting features which include wooden carvings from St Peter's Church in Liverpool, many memorials to the Fleetwood and Hesketh families who owned most of the local area including the family seats of Meols Hall
in Churchtown and Greaves Hall in Banks
. The stained glass windows in the church are from the 20th century.
St Cuthbert's was designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage
on 21 September 1951. The Grade II designation—the lowest of the three grades—is for buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest". An active church in the Church of England
, St Cuthbert's is part of the Diocese of Liverpool
, which is in the Province of York
. It is in the archdeaconry of Warrington and the Deanery
of North Meols.
have a family crypt at St Cuthberts.
is buried at the church as it is the oldest church in the town. Also the majority of the Hesketh family are buried in the vaults of their private family crypt.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Churchtown, Merseyside, a village that is now a suburb of Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
in the English county of Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
. It is an active parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
in the Diocese of Liverpool
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
The Diocese of Liverpool is a Church of England diocese based in Liverpool, covering Merseyside north of the River Mersey along with West Lancashire, Wigan in Greater Manchester, Warrington and Widnes in Cheshire...
and the archdeaconry of Warrington. It has been designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage. Historically, St Cuthbert's was the parish church of the ecclesiastical parish of North Meols
North Meols
North Meols is a civil parish in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England. The parish covers the village of Banks and the hamlet of Hundred End...
and was within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
History and administration
There has been a church on the site of St Cuthbert's since at least as far back as the time of King StephenStephen, King of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
(d. 1154). It was the parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of the ecclesiastical parish of North Meols
North Meols
North Meols is a civil parish in the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England. The parish covers the village of Banks and the hamlet of Hundred End...
, in the historic county of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The current church was built 1730–39 to replace the original structure, which had burned down. Alterations were made in 1806. In 1908–09, architect Isaac Taylor extensively restored the church, leaving little trace of the 1806 work. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
dates form this restoration.
St Cuthberts is a Grade II listed building. The church has some very interesting features which include wooden carvings from St Peter's Church in Liverpool, many memorials to the Fleetwood and Hesketh families who owned most of the local area including the family seats of Meols Hall
Meols Hall
Meols Hall is a historical manor house in Churchtown, Merseyside, dating from the 12th century but largely rebuilt in by Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh in the 1960s.- History :...
in Churchtown and Greaves Hall in Banks
Banks, Lancashire
Banks is a large coastal village in Lancashire, England. It lies just south of the Ribble estuary and four miles north-east of the town of Southport. The village is administered by West Lancashire Borough Council, and by North Meols parish council for parochial matters. It falls in the South...
. The stained glass windows in the church are from the 20th century.
St Cuthbert's was designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
on 21 September 1951. The Grade II designation—the lowest of the three grades—is for buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest". An active church in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, St Cuthbert's is part of the Diocese of Liverpool
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
The Diocese of Liverpool is a Church of England diocese based in Liverpool, covering Merseyside north of the River Mersey along with West Lancashire, Wigan in Greater Manchester, Warrington and Widnes in Cheshire...
, which is in the Province of York
Province of York
The Province of York is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England, and consists of 14 dioceses which cover the northern third of England and the Isle of Man. York was elevated to an Archbishopric in 735 AD: Ecgbert of York was the first archbishop...
. It is in the archdeaconry of Warrington and the Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
of North Meols.
Tide
The sea at Southport many years ago used to flood much of what is the sea front today, it is believed that St Cuthberts Church was constructed on a small hill which prevented the tide from the sea flooding the church. Today Southport has great sea defences which prevent the town and surrounding suburbs from flooding.The Stocks
To the left of the churchyard entrance, adjacent to the church wall on St. Cuthbert's Road, are the old village stocks which date from 1741. They have become a landmark within the village and are an original feature to the village.Hesketh Family
The Hesketh family, who inhabit the village's manor house, Meols HallMeols Hall
Meols Hall is a historical manor house in Churchtown, Merseyside, dating from the 12th century but largely rebuilt in by Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh in the 1960s.- History :...
have a family crypt at St Cuthberts.
Graves
It is believed that the founder of Southport William SuttonWilliam Sutton (Southport)
William Sutton was a local forward thinking man from North Meols who, in 1792, took advantage of the fashionable new trend of sea bathing by building a bathing house at South Hawes and, realizing the importance of the newly created canal systems, gambled with the idea of a...
is buried at the church as it is the oldest church in the town. Also the majority of the Hesketh family are buried in the vaults of their private family crypt.