Waterloo: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 325 979
Built 1882-83 to the designs of William Gilbee Habershon (1818 or -19 to 1891) to serve the residential estate of Waterloo Park. Narthex added 1906-07. Annexe added 1934, at time when land surrounding church was developed to form Brook Vale Estate.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Cruciform, with squat crossing tower where a steeple was intended. Nave, chancel, N and S aisles, N and S transepts, W narthex, NW porch, SW memorial chapel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 739 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
No significant archaeological finds have been reported in the vicinity of the church.
Garden of remembrance enclosed by a low brick wall, used for the burial of ashes.
St Mary’s was built in response to the growth of Waterloo as a popular sea-bathing resort in the second half of the nineteenth-century. An iron church was built in 1877, and five years later, in 1882, the foundation stone of the permanent church was laid by the Lord Bishop of Liverpool. The building as completed and licensed for worship in 1883, but a weakness was discovered in the foundations which delayed the consecration of the building until 1886. It also prevented the building of a spire to the church and necessitated the installation of tubular bells rather than ordinary cast iron bells. A parish hall was opened in August 1901, the same month in which St Mary’s became a parish in its own right. The foundation stone for an extension to the church was laid in September 1906. An ante-room was added to the parish hall in 1908. St John’s chapel was dedicated as a war memorial in 1920. A north porch was added to the church in 1933, and an annexe added to the hall in 1934.
All trees in churchyard have preservation orders.
Exterior Description
The church is cruciform, with a central, crenellated tower with cusped belfry openings. It was originally to have a spire but it was discovered that the structure would not support its weight; as a result the church has a somewhat squat appearance. There is a three-bay clerestory above four-bay nave. At the W end, an early C20 narthex with gabled porches to N and S and a three-gabled W elevation; the central gable is stepped and has a cross finial. The church (including the hall attached at the E end) has two-colour slate roofs with terracotta ridge tiles.
The E, W and transept windows are each a group of three lancets, with roll moulding to the mullions. Nave windows are two-lancet groups, with roll moulding to the mullions and a shared hood-mould with ornamented stops. Buttresses between the nave windows. Clerestory windows are groups of three cusped lancets. A string course runs beneath the windows. There are set-back buttresses at the corners of the tower and the transepts.
Church hall attached at SE corner with windows in three-lancet groups (the central lancet elongated and cusped) with string-course beneath and buttresses between; in end wall (E), group of five lancets, the central lancet cusped. From church hall, S, linked extension to annexe.
Building Fabric and Features
Narthex (classical)
20th century addition
Cruciform Plan
19th century
Tower (component)
19th century crossing
Nave
19th century
Chancel
19th century
Aisle
19th century north and south
Transept
19th century north and south
Porch
19th century
Chapel (component)
19th century
Interior
Interior Description
Entry is via the NW porch. Corresponding, to the S, a memorial chapel. Between, a narthex, divided from the nave by a glazed screen.
The nave arcade is formed of quatrefoil pillars with roll-moulded capitals. There are compound piers at the crossing. A string course runs beneath the clerestory. The hammer-beam roof is supported on stone corbels.
Within the nave and transepts, fixed pews stand on raised wooden platforms. The nave is divided into three aisles.
The chancel is defined by low stone walls topped with marble, with which the pulpit is integral. There are wrought iron gates at the chancel wall. There are two steps up into the chancel and then there are four more up to the communion rails and a further step up to altar dais. The chancel and sanctuary are floored with Minton tiles. The choir stalls are fixed to raised wooden platforms. The organ is on the N side of the chancel; the wall on the S side is panelled and there is a door to the vestry. Moving into the sanctuary, on the N side is a lancet window, a stone plinth projecting from the wall, and a piscina with a hood mould with ornamented stops. The E wall is panelled. In the S wall is a sedilia with cusped-arched niches divided by marble colonettes and a hood mould with head-stops.
In the E wall of the S transept, near the crossing, a door leads to the vestry and ancillary accommodation. The S side of the S transept has been divided by a pierced wooden screen to form a war memorial chapel. It has a parquet floor and an aisle laid with Minton tiles. On the E side, two steps up to communion rails and a further broad step up to the altar dais, inlaid with mosaic. On the W side, a lancet window and a two-leaf wooden door with stone surround beneath.
The N transept has been cleared of pews, though the raised platforms remain. Where the pews have been removed, polychromatic brickwork is visible – elsewhere covered in paint. Organ pipes project into the S transept on the E side.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century High altar by Robert Thompson, ‘The Mouseman’. Light oak with three gilded panels and carved border of vines. Carved mouse. Inscribed “In loving memory of George and Emily Caroline Rollo given by their children, 1936.” In war memorial chapel: carved wooden altar inlaid with mosaic of mother and child.
Stained Glass (window)
19th / 20th century WW1: War Memorial chapel, lancet, W, dedicated ‘To Our Fallen Comrades, 1914-1919,’ inscribed ‘Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.’ A soldier presents his sword to Christ as, above, three angels fold a banner reading ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant.’ WW2: S aisle, two lancets, dedicated “To the glory of God and in loving memory of Captain David Vickery Leighton R. A. aged 24 years. Killed in Action in Italy, 23rd January 1944.” Two figures captioned “Loyalty” and “Courage”, with badge of Surrey Yeomanry and another crest above. WW1: S aisle, two lancets, St Alban and St George. “To the glory of God and in loving memory of our younger son Lawrence Frank Milner aged 22 years Lieutenant 1/9th Kings Liverpool Regt. who was killed in action near Loos in France 25th Sept 1915. Yea though I walk through the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Psalm XXIII v.4.” (pictured) WW1: Narthex, W. Five lights. Naaman, St Peter, Christ with children, St John the Baptist, St Philip. “To the glory of God and in memory of those who fell and in gratitude to all who served in the Great War 1914-1919.” (pictured) WW1: N aisle, two lancets. St Michael and the figure of Peace. “To the glory of God as a thank offering for the safety of our sons George Rollo Brigadier General CMG DSO and William Stuart Rollo Cpt. MC RE during the war 1914-1918.” WW1 and WW2: A separate memorial chapel to SW contains the Waterloo Grammar School Memorial Book in a glass case. Chancel, E, three-light. Christ in majesty with supporters and pieta. Of unknown date, but mid-C20 – could it be post-WW2 bomb damage? Impressive. (pictured) S transept, three-light, Christ with angels. C19. In a similar style, N transept, three-light, Ascension. C19. S aisle, two lancets, St George and St Hubert, dedicated to John Dorning, d. 1887. S aisle, two lancets. Christ walking on the waters, dedicated to William Jardine, d. 1920 at Rio de Janeiro, by his widow and daughters. Memorial chapel, SW. Two lancets. Angel appearing to Mary in the garden. Dedicated to the memory of Alfred Edward Wright, d. 1937, and Mary his wife, d. 1939. Chancel, S, lancet: The good shepherd. C19.
Pulpit
19th century Stone, with pink marble shafts. Four-sided, with panels inset with emblems in mosaic. Polygonal moulded base with foliage. Integral with the low chancel walls, topped with marble, with ornate iron gates.
Lectern
19th century Brass, ornate. An attractive piece.
Font (component)
19th century Round bowl supported on central stone shaft and four marble pillars, with polygonal base. Inscribed “Suffer Little Children To Come Unto Me.” Cover in dark oak, quatrefoil design scalloped with carved edge.
Reredos
20th century Chancel: Light oak in three sections with gilded panels and a carved mouse. By Robert Thompson, ‘The Mouseman’, 1936. War memorial chapel: carved wooden reredos.
Pew (component)
19th century Fixed, numbered pine pews with umbrella holders.
Stall
19th century Oak choir stalls installed in memory of Canon Sykes, with poppyheads and some traceried decoration.
Rail
19th century Wooden rail with ornate wrought-iron standards, with gilding.
Organ (component)
19th century Norman Bros and Beard, Norwich. Two manual.
Plaque (component)
19th / 20th century Chancel: Brass wall plaque with red and black writing, dedicated to William Younghusband d. 1879 and Ann Younghusband d. 1901. Chancel: Three further brass wall plaques, dated 1982, 1987, 1993. S aisle: Brass wall plaque in memory of Mary Stanley and commemorating the gift of the bells in her memory by her husband, New Years Eve 1914. Marble memorials with brass inlays dedicated to Samuel Marshall Freeman, d. 1919, and George Henry Spicer, d. 1909. Bronze and wood plaque to William Matthews, born 1845, commemorating his 35 years as verger. Stone plaque in N porch commemorating Henry Burrowes MA and the opening of the completed nave of the church in 1908.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers kept at Liverpool Central Library.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 325 979
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
Sources
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