St Paul's Church, St Paul’s Street, Ecclesfield, Southport

The foundation stone of a new church at Ecclesfield, Southport has been laid by Lord Skelmersdale. The church, which is dedicated to St Paul, is situate close to the boundary line between Birkdale and Southport, and, when completed, will have cost ,4,400. The style of architecture is in the Early Decorated. It will consist of a nave, north and south aisles, transepts, and chancel; the last having north aisle as chapel and south aisle as vestry and organ loft. The architects are Messrs Speakman and Charleswoth of Manchester, and the contract has been let to Messrs Ellis and Hinchliffe of Manchester for £4,390 [Builder 7 June 1862 Page 410]

NEW CHURCH ECCLESFIELD, SOUTHPORT LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE, YESTERDAY. The foundation-stone of a new place of worship, to be designated St. Pauls Church, was laid yesterday, in Southport, the ceremony being performed the Right Hon. Lord Skelmersdale. The district of Ecclesfield, which has grown up within the last two years, has become the most populous suburb in Southport. It is inhabited, for the most part, by the working classes, and the want of proper church accommodation has for some time been felt within its precincts. More than a year ago, indeed, this want began generally recognised, and a movement was set on foot to remedy this deficiency, the immediate result which was the erection of a temporary iron church, sufficient to accommodate between three and four hundred persons.  The site of the new edifice is near to the place where the iron church now stands, on the banks of a small stream called “The Nile," which runs along the side of Duke-street, near the boundary line between Birkdale and Southport. The land, both for the church and the schools, which are already in progress, has been obtained on most liberal terms from the Lord of Manor, the Rev. C. Hesketh; and it is designed shortly erect a parsonage house near the place, the land for which has also been purchased. The new church is intended to be erected in a solid and substantial manner, with Burnley parpoint facing and Hoghton ashlar stone dressings externally, the inside walls being built of bricks. It will cruciform in plan, with nave, aisles, transepts, and chancel, the last having north aisle as a chapel, and south aisle as vestry and organ loft; and contiguous to the vestry will be provided a room for the convenience of the choir. The sizes of the several parts of the church are follows: Nave, total length from east to west, 88 feet 6 inches, with cross nave and aisles 58 feet ; entire width across transepts, 72 feet; chancel, east to west, 32 feet 6 inches ; width, 24 feet, aisles to same 18 feet 6 inches long, and 15 feet 8 inches wide. The tower and spire, which are noticeable feature approaching from Lord-street, will be 132 ft. high to the top of the finial; there will be a north porch, whilst a porch is placed at the west end of south aisle of nave ; other porches are provided at the east end of the building, to ensure easy access and egress the congregation in the vicinity of the transepts, and are also intended to used as entrances to galleries, which can added to the transepts when circumstances require. The whole of the church is to be seated with open benches, which will afford ample space for each worshipper, and accommodate about 900 persons. The architects have had in view that objection often raised against the clustered pillars supporting the arcades of aisles, which prevent the view the officiating minister and obstruct the sound, for this they intend obviating by the introduction of cast iron coupled columns, which will divide the nave and aisles (the junction of transepts having four each) thus retaining the picturesque features noticeable in our ancient churches, and which we must admit are amongst their chief attractions, and the same time ensuring to any person wherever seated uninterrupted view the clergyman. The architects of the new church are Messrs. Speakman and Charlesworth, of Manchester, their plans being selected the committee from those of a number other competitors. The contract for the building has been let to Messrs. Ellis and Hinchcliife, builders, Manchester, at the cost of £4,390, an extremely moderate sum when compared with the expenses of other buildings of a like nature which are being erected in Southport and other places. [Liverpool Daily Post 3 May 1862 page 5]

ST PAUL’S CHURCH SOUTHPORT, represented by the accompanying engraving, is approaching completion. It is in the Decorated style, and is erected with Burnley parpoint facing and Hoghton ashlar dressings externally; the inside walls being built of bricks. It is cruciform on plan, with nave aisles transepts and chancel, the last having north aisle as chapel and south aisle as vestry and organ loft. Contiguous with the vestry will be provided a room for the convenience of the choir. The dimensions of the church are as follows: Nave, total length from east to west, 88 feet 6 inches; width across transepts, 72 feet; chancel, east to west, 32 feet 6 inches; width 24 feet; aisles to same, 18 feet 6 inches long, and 15 feet 3 inches wide. The tower with spire, which is a noticeable feature approaching from Lord-street, will be 132 feet high to the top of finial, and serves as a north porch, whilst a south porch is placed at the west end of the south aisle of nave: other porches are provided at the east end of the building, to ensure easy access and egress to the congregation in the vicinity of the transepts; and are also intended to be used as entrances to galleries, which can be added to the transepts, if required. The aisles are lighted by eight two-light windows, alternately of different design; whilst the elevation of north and south transepts is varied, the former having a large circular window, 10 feet in diameter, and the latter a four-light window surmounted by a circle having triangular tracery. The west window is five-light, and 26 feet high. A clerestory, fenestrated with nine circular cusped windows, lights the upper portion of the nave. The roof is not open; the committee adopted the plan of a counter ceiling, with the view of preventing down-draughts.  The pulpit and reading desk are arranged at both ends of the steps leading to the chancel, with the choir seats at their immediate back, facing each other; and it is intended to place the font in the chapel adjoining the chancel. The seats are to accommodate about 900 persons; and, as all other woodwork, will be stained and varnished. Cast-iron coupled columns will divide the nave and aisles, the junction of transepts having four each.  The architects are Messrs Speakman and Charlesworth, of Manchester; their design having been selected by the committee in competition. Messrs Ellis and Hinchliffe of Manchester are executing the work for the sum of £4,390. [Builder 20 September 1862 Page 678]

CONSECRATION OF ST. PAUL’S NEW CHURCH, SOUTHPORT. Yesterday, the new church dedicated to St. Paul, and situated in the populous suburb of Southport, Ecclesfield, was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester, who preached an appropriate sermon on the occasion, from Matthew ix., 37: "The harvest truly is plenteous; but the labourers are few."  The first stone of the new edifice was laid on the 2nd May, 1862, by Lord Skelmersdale. It is a handsome building, in the decorated style, and, with its tower and spire, is a noticeable feature from Lordstreet. Its plan is cruciform, with nave, aisles, transept, and chancel, the last-named having north aisle as chapel and south aisle vestry and organ loft. The church will accommodate about 900 persons, and its dimensions are as follow : Nave, total length from east to west, 32 feet; width across transepts, feet; chancel, east to west, feet; width, feet; aisles to same, 18 feet, and 15 feet wide. The height of the tower and spire is 132 feet. It serves as a north porch, whilst a south porch is placed the west end of the south aisle of the nave. Other porches are provided at the east end of the building to ensure easy access and egress to the congregation in the vicinity of the transepts, aud are also intended to be used as entrances to galleries, which can be added to the transepts if required. The aisles are lighted by eight two-light windows, of different alternate designs ; whilst the elevation of the north and south transepts is varied, the former having large circular window, and the latter four-light window surmounted a circle having triangular tracery. The west window, which is in five lights, is twenty-six feet high. Like the other windows, it has been filled in with stained glass of excellent design and character, by French artist. A clerestory, fenestrated with nine circularcusped windows, lights the upper portion of the nave. The roof is not open, the committee having adopted the plan of counter ceiling, which not only have down-draughts been prevented, but good acoustic results have been secured. A peculiarity of the architectural design is the use of coupled iron columns to support the arcades of the naves. By this means a clear view of the officiating minister is obtained from all the seats in the body of the church. The interior work altogether is admirably executed. The pulpit, which is of elegant design, and profusely carved in Caen stone, is placed at the end of the steps leading to the chanceL It is the munificent gift of Mr. Tamplln, a member of the congregation. The body of the pulpit is supported by two columns of red Mansfield stone, with sculptured caps ; the shafts supporting it are of Devonshire marble, and all the caps in connection with it are elaborately carved. The panels are three in number, the centre one containing the holy monogram. At the end of the chancel, which is apsidal, is reredos of Caen stone, with medallions, in alto relief, of the evangelists, and appropriate texts. The font in the west end even still more elaborate in its ornamentation, foliage being largely introduced, and marble being worked in with great effect in the panels. The whole of the timbers in connection with the above, as well the seatings and other woodwork, have been stained and varnished. Both externally and internally, the church does credit to all concerned in it, and is an ornament to the town of Southport. The architects whose designs were selected from those of about a dozen competitors—were Messrs. Speakman and Charlesworth, of Manchester. The sculptured work is Mr. Bonehill, of Manchester. The builders, Messrs. Ellis and Hinchliffe, of Manchester, have carried out their work to the entire satisfaction of the architects and the committee. The contract for the building amounted to £4,390. The incumbent is the Rev. T. J. Clarke, who, for the past three years, has conducted the services of the church in a temporary iron building, which has been so inconveniently crowded that the opening of the new church will be hailed with satisfaction both residents and visitors to the town. [Manchester Courier 15 April 1864 page 3]

Cast iron columns. Burnley stone. [Pevsner North Lancashire]

Reference    Liverpool Daily Post 3 May 1862 page 5
Reference    Blackburn Standard 7 May 1862 page3
Reference    Builder 7 June 1862 Page 410 from Blackburn Standard
Reference    Builder 20 September 1862 Page 678 and illustration
Reference    Manchester Courier 15 April 1864 page 3