Birkenhead: St Winifred's Welsh Chapel
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 312 884
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
3-bay nave with north aisle and porch, 2-bay chancel with north organ chamber and vestry, hall in undercroft beneath with toilets.
Dimensions:
Nave 12m (43ft) by 6m (19’3ft), chancel 4m (13ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1890 by and for the large Welsh-speaking community of the Wirral, and licensed for worship by the Bishop of Chester. There were also several nonconformist churches for the Welsh community. Most of these people worked in the shipyards, and the main benefactor was Anne Jane Laird, wife of the shipping magnate William Laird, the main local employer. Her name is on the foundation plaque, below which is the motto TY GWEDDI Y GELWIR FY NHÝ (my house shall be called a house of prayer (for all nations), Isaiah 56:7).
Minor reordering was recently undertaken involving the removal of pews at the west end to allow for a small meeting area, otherwise the church is little changed.
Exterior Description
This is a small church built with economy in mind, designed in a simplified Early English style. The nave and chancel have one continuous roof, a little more vertical emphasis to this two-storey building is provided by a small lead-covered fleche at the west end to the street. The west end has thick stepped buttresses flanking a plate tracery 3-light within a blind pointed arch. Below this is the foundation stone, and below this a row of windows lighting the undercroft (mostly boarded up); these are not visible from the street because of the hedge.
The large north-west porch is a major component, a simple gable with pointed and moulded brick archway. It gives access to the upper floor of the building, the church. The short north aisle and organ chamber/vestry are under a lean-to roof abutting this, with paired lancet windows. The south wall of the church also has paired lancets, the east window a 3-light of stepped lancets. Stairs on the south side lead down to a plain door giving access to the hall with toilets and simple kitchen.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 3-bay
Aisle
19th century north
Porch
19th century
Chancel
19th century 2-bay
Organ (component)
19th century north chamber
Vestry
19th century
Undercroft
19th century contains hall
Building Materials
Brick
19th century red, walls
Terracotta
19th century dressings
Timber
19th century roof structure
Tile
19th century roofing
Interior
Interior Description
The porch leads to an internal glazed draught lobby, which opens to the north aisle; this terminates to the east with a Lady Chapel and a canted wall with a small doorway which opens to the vestry behind the organ chamber. The pipes are displayed to the chancel. There is no division between nave and chancel, and no chancel arch. The arches to the aisle are plain and pointed. The interior is whitewashed, the lower east wall painted light blue.
The nave is filled with simple oak pews with squared ends, but a space at the west end has been cleared and there are chairs and tables here. The chancel has unusual choir stalls with long ends with pattee cross open tracery supporting a head rest. The roof is of collared timber trusses taken down to stepped brick corbels, the floor woodblock under blue carpet.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century The Holy Table is of oak, with tracery. Lady Chapel altar in the north aisle, oak chest with blind tracery.
Reredos
19th century Oak panelling with central tabernacle and blind tracery and brocade frame around.
Pulpit
19th century Pitched pine, hexagonal, plain.
Lectern
19th century Brass eagle, given 1898 to the church of St Michael Birkenhead in memory of John Venables. Oak reading desk donated by Ann Williams, 1897, Gothic tracery.
Font (component)
19th century Circular white stone font with moulded bowl, simple Early English style.
Organ (component)
19th century Pipe organ by Henry Poyser of Chester, in good condition. American harmonium by Mason & Hamlin.
Rail
19th century Simple oak rails.
Triptych (religious)
20th century World War I wooden triptych on west wall of north aisle with names of the fallen in gold lettering.
Panel
20th century Small wooden board adjacent in memory of Revd Albert Woodcock, lost at sea due to enemy action in 1941.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 312 884
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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