St. Nicholas Church in New Street

A view from the graveyard at the front of St.Nicholas church photographed in February 2009

In 1848 Sutton, which had previously been in the parish of Prescot, was given its own parish and work began on constructing a new church. The gothic Victorian church of St. Nicholas, located in New Street in Sutton, St.Helens was built from pink sandstone and consecrated on 4th June, 1849 as Sutton Church by the Rev. John Graham, the Bishop of Chester. The patron was Kings College Cambridge and the first minister was Rev. Henry Edward Francis Vallancey who was the vicar of Sutton until 1888.

A view from the graveyard at the rear of St.Nicholas church photographed in July 2006

All Saints Church in Ellamsbridge Road

All Saints in Ellamsbridge Road in the Sutton Junction district was built between 1891 and 1893 from red sandstone and designed by the renowned Lancaster architects Sharpe, Paley and Austin. It was the second Church of England place of worship within Sutton parish after the building of St.Nicholas, which until the consecration of All Saints, was usually referred to as Sutton Church. For many years the same vicar ministered to both churches. Although it has its own church hall, it has no graveyard of its own.

The porch at the western end of the southern aisle of All Saints opens into a "dignified" interior and there are rounded arches inside the perpendicular windows. The details of the windows including their tracery, are said to be free from archaeological correctness. The planned central tower was never constructed.

All Saints church in Ellamsbridge Road photographed in May 2006

All Saints' organ was donated by William Pilkington of the Pilkington’s glassmaking company in 1900 and in 1905 the Pilkington memorial stained glass east window was donated by the family. The building has grade 2 listed building status.

St. Anne and Blessed Dominic in Monastery Road

Church of St. Anne and Blessed Dominic photographed in June 2006 - nb. cross has since removed

The church of St. Anne and Blessed Dominic in Monastery Road / Lane, Sutton is a replacement for the original Gothic church of St.Annes which was built in sandstone with a tower and steeple and opened in October 1853. The church was located adjacent to a Passionist monastery which was founded in 1849. The old church was heavily damaged by mining subsidence and so had to be demolished.

Built on the other side of the monastery, the new church was blessed by Archbishop of Liverpool, George Beck, on November 25th, 1973. It was built using the Wannar system of preformed struts and consists of an octagonal structure to which has been added a small chapel.

Ignatius Spencer (1799 - 1864), Elizabeth Prout (1864 - 1920) and Dominic Barberi (1792 - 1849)

This contains the shrine of the Blessed Dominic Barberi and the remains of Father Ignatius Spencer and Elizabeth Prout, foundress of The Sisters of the Cross and Passion. Dominic Barberi (1792-1849) was the Passionist priest who in 1840-41 brought the Passionist Congregation to England and who co-founded the original mission with church, school and convent at St Anne’s. Declared ‘Venerable’ in 1911, Father Dominic Barberi was declared ‘Blessed’ and beatified by Pope Paul VI on 27th October 1963. Sutton monastery, where generations of young men where trained as priests for the Passionist Congregation, was demolished some years ago.

It's quite possible that Sutton could have three Saints at some point in the future as the 'cause' for sainthood of Fr. Ignatius Spencer, an antecedent of Winston Churchill and great-great-great uncle of Diana, Princess of Wales was opened by Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool in 1992. The cause for Elizabeth Prout, the nun who worked with the Manchester was passed onto the Vatican in the summer of 2008. It's an extraordinary fact that half of the English causes set for scrutiny by Rome have their mortal remains in Sutton!

Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel in Lancots Lane

Exterior of Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel photographed in May 2006

In 1893 the Wesleyan's moved to new premises and the chapel was handed over to the Welsh community who used it as an undenominational, nonconformist place of worship. The Welsh were then employed in large numbers in the copper works on the Sutton bank of the St.Helens Canal.

There used to be a number of Welsh chapels in the area but Sutton Oak is the only one left. The chapel played its part in the Welsh Revival movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. On Boxing Day 1904 the noted preacher Rev W O Jones participated in a revivalist meeting at Sutton Oak.

Interior of Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel taken in February 2008 plus the 'Welsh Dragon' banner over the entrance

After some years of closure, the Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel Preservation Society, run by Paul Jones and Caroline Owen, reopened the grade 2 listed building at the beginning of 2007. As well as being open for special events including arts and crafts, the chapel is now open to receive visitors on Wednesdays and Fridays with tea and coffee available.

Exterior of Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel photographed in April 2009

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Gartons Lane

St.Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church pictured in May 2008

St.Theresa's RC Church dates back to 1916 when the twin collieries at Clock Face and Sutton Manor were in full production. Two years earlier The Times (4/2/1914) reported that in that district "A town has sprung up where a few months ago there were only fields", with builders unable to cope with the demand for housing all the colliers. Historically, whenever there's been a growth in population, the church and the publicans have been quick to supply their somewhat disparate services!

Statue over the entrance at St.Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church pictured in May 2008

So with sufficient demand for a second RC church in the Sutton district, Dean Carr, of St.Bartholomew's in Rainhill, obtained land in Garton's Lane and constructed first a chapel and then in 1923, a simple church. Later a larger area of land was bought on the other side of the street and a sandstone church in the free Norman style with round arches was slowly built with local stonemason Peter Howe serving as both architect and builder.

The foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of Liverpool on June 7th, 1931 and the work proceeded until the outbreak of war but then came to a halt. It was not until 1958-9 that it was completed with local architectural firm of William and John Basil Ellis modifying the original roof.

The frontal doors of St.Theresa of the Child Jesus lead into a narthex, or lobby area that's located at the end of an impressive nave with glass entry doors. Twenty-six sandstone columns support the clerestory and roof and outside them an ambulatory encircles the High Altar, which is set in an apse. To the right of the nave are three side chapels which are separated by elaborately carved stone ornamentation.

Header picture: St.Nicholas Church lychgate entrance

Sutton Churches Photo-Album    |   St.Nicholas Church Photo-Album

Also see History of Religion in Sutton and Rev. Henry Vallancey   |   Research Sources