Noteworthy Churches in Sutton, St.Helens

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH

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. Vallancey was born in New Windsor in Berkshire in 1807. He was ordained as a deacon in 1831 and served as a priest in Norwich, Bricet and Wattisham in Suffolk and Rochford in Essex. From 1843 until 1849 he served as Chaplain to the Bishop of Guiana (Guyana) before arriving in Sutton to take up his post which he held until his death on 19th September 1888.

A view from the graveyard at the rear of St.Nicholas church

The squat west tower of St.Nicholas Church was constructed in 1897, designed by the renowned Lancaster architects Sharpe, Paley and Austin. The central aisle is separated from the south aisle by Gothic arches on heavy circular pillars. The northern aisle parallels the southern one to complete the nave, which has small clerestory windows. The chancel contains a late Perpendicular stained glass window in the east, below which is the High Altar. The east window is dated 1879 and is thought to have been designed by expert stained glass window designer Henry Holiday, who was employed by Powell’s Glass Works and during his employment fulfilled over 300 commissions mainly from American clients. The Willis Organ was presented by William (Roby) Pilkington who later became the Lord of the Manor. He also gave two stained glass windows and others were presented by William Blinkhorn.

A view of St.Nicholas in winter from New Street

Two additional stained glass windows were installed to commemorate the church’s 150th anniversary. In the graveyard is the Michael Hughes family vault who owned the nearby Sherdley estate for over 140 years (see Sutton's History) . The building has a seating capacity of 600 and has been awarded grade 2 listed building status.

ALL SAINTS CHURCH

All Saints in Ellamsbridge Road, Sutton Junction was built between 1891 and 1893 from red sandstone and designed by the renowned Lancaster architects Sharpe, Paley and Austin. The porch at the western end of the southern aisle 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' 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

The church of St. Anne and Blessed Dominic in Monastery Road, Sutton is a replacement for the original Gothic church 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 Sutton, St.Helens in 1849. The old church was heavily damaged by mining subsidence and so had to be demolished. The new church was constructed on the other side of the monastery and was blessed by the 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 is added a smaller chapel.

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 also demolished some years ago.

THE SUTTON OAK WELSH CHAPEL

The Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel is located on the corner of Lancots Lane and Sutton Road. It's the third oldest listed building in St.Helens and one of only two to have been constructed from industrial waste. It was built by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1845 using cobbles made out of copper slag, donated by local firm Newton Keats & Co.

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.

After some years of closure, the Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel Preservation Society 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.