St. Nicholas Church in New Street

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• 'Try' part of the Griffin Wood sculpture trail in Bold
• Daffodils at the junction of Waterdale Place and New Street
• Entrance to Brickfields Red Quarry connecting Chester Lane and Clock Face Road
• The sun-kissed waters of the historic Sutton Mill Dam
• The sun-kissed waters of the historic Sutton Mill Dam
• Bluebells within Dam Wood in Sherdley Park
• St.Nicholas Palm Sunday walk of witness - Photographed by Jim Lamb
• Dream in the Sutton Manor Woodland with an ex-miner's urn in the foreground
• The beauty of Clock Face Colliery Country Park in Spring
• The beauty of Spring in front of the ugly Lea Green power station
• Part of the flourishing Maypole Wood from the Country Park
• Dream in Sutton Manor photographed from Clock Face
• The beauty of Clock Face Colliery Country Park in Spring
• 'Try' in Griffin Wood - designed by Jack Murray & created by chainsaw sculptor Andy Burgess
• The beauty of Clock Face Colliery Country Park
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• The beauty of Clock Face Colliery Country Park
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted
• Griffin Wood in Bold has had many young trees planted

All Saints Church in Ellamsbridge Road

All Saints church in Ellamsbridge Road, Sutton photographed in December 2009

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 looking beautiful in the snow of Christmas 2009

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

Church Details: Sutton Team Ministry: Rev. Chris Spittle 01744 813738; Rev. Mark Taylor 01744 812347; Rev. Maureen Harrison 01744 814018; Parish Office (including baptism and wedding enquiries): 01744 813841; Download Sutton Parish Graveyard Plan; View History of All Saints & St.Nicholas Churches

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-style 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 (1820 - 1864) 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 a few years later co-founded the original mission at St Anne’s, complete with church, monastery, school and convent. 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 poor and who died at the Sutton Convent, was passed onto the Vatican during the summer of 2008. It's an extraordinary fact that half of the English causes currently being scrutinised by Rome, have their mortal remains in Sutton! (You can read a comprehensive history of St.Anne's here.)

Church Details: Parish Centre, St Anne and Blessed Dominic Parish Church, Monastery Lane, Sutton, St. Helens, WA9 3SP. Tel: 01744 811935; Parish House, 179 Derbyshire Hill Road, St.Helens, WA9 2LS. Tel: 01744 22972;  View History of St.Anne's Church, Monastery & Convent

Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel

Exterior of Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel at the corner of Sutton Road and Lancots Lane photographed in May 2006

In 1893 the Wesleyans 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 had been employed in large numbers at Newton Keates & Co's Copper Works in Sutton Oak and Rolling Mill factory in Watery Lane, since the former was founded in 1832. However, both plants closed down in 1895.

There have been a number of Welsh chapels in the area but Sutton Oak is the only one still in use, although the Welsh Presbyterian Church's old chapel in Peckers Hill Road still exists, albeit as a storeroom. The Sutton Oak chapel played its part in the Welsh Revival movement early in the 20th century and on Boxing Day 1904, noted preacher Rev. W.O. Jones participated in a revivalist meeting.

Interior of Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel 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 and partly refurbished the building. In 2011 Cllr. John Beirne took over the management of the chapel and improvements have been made by Prince's Trust volunteers and individuals undertaking community service. The inside has been repainted and the garden cleaned up and a pop /gospel choir called Celebration Choir, who have 20 to 30 members of all ages, use the chapel for rehearsals every Wednesday and for performances. The historic building will be open for visitors during the September 2012 heritage open weekend and at other times during the year.

The exterior of the Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel photographed from Sutton Road in April 2009

Church Details: Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel, Lancots Lane, St. Helens, WA9 3EX; For information on the Celebration Choir contact Pat on 01744 815134.

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Gartons Lane

St.Theresa's Church in Gartons Lane, St.Helens 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 Gartons Lane and constructed a small chapel. In 1923 Fr. Ralph Holden became the priest-in-charge at Sutton Manor and he soon developed ambitious plans to create a basilica dedicated to the French Carmelite nun Thérèse of Lisieux. Land was purchased on the opposite side of the road to the chapel. However there were many delays and it took until 1959 before a less grandiose but still beautiful church was completed. (You can read a comprehensive history of St.Theresa's here.)

Note the individually carved stone pillars inside St.Theresa's Church - pictured in October 2011

It was constructed out of sandstone in the free Norman style with round arches and a flat roof. The beautifully carved pillars inside the church were created by local stonemasons and are a notable feature.

Sutton Village Church in Herbert Street

Sutton Village Church in Herbert Street - Note the plaques along the side connected with donors

Church of the Nazarene in Helena Road

The Church of the Nazarene in Helena Road, Sutton - formerly known as the Emmanuel Mission

Sutton Churches Photo-Album    |   St.Nicholas Church Photo-Album
Also see: History of Religion in Sutton Part 1 (Sutton C. of E. Parish Churches & Chapels); History of Religion in Sutton Part 2 (Sutton Roman Catholic churches); Rev. Henry Vallancey