Church of St James the Great, Haydock
Encyclopedia
The Church of St James the Great, Haydock, is in Church Road in the former mining community of Haydock
, now part of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens, Merseyside
, in the North-west of England (postcode WA11 0NJ). It is an active Anglican
parish church
in the diocese of Liverpool
, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Winwick.
on 11 December 1866. By 1888 this had become too small for the growing population, and in 1889 plans were approved for an extension. The foundation stone for this was laid on 5 October 1889, the new church was opened on 25 July 1891, and it was consecrated in June 1892. The old church became the Lady Chapel
of the new church. The new church was designed by Douglas & Fordham. In 1929–31 due to structural problems, the chancel
, sanctuary and west wall were rebuilt and the spire was removed. Between 1988 and 1990 the church was reordered, providing a new chapel, St Alban's chapel.
of the church. The new church is timber framed
with brick nog
ging on a sandstone
plinth
. This style was chosen because its flexibility would give protection against possible mining subsidence. The east end was originally timber framed but this was rebuilt in brick and render
in 1929–31. The interior of the church contains much dark-stained oak. The hanging rood dated 1952 was designed by Edward Hines of the Warham Guild and carved by Jethro Harris. In the Lady Chapel is a triptych
dated 1999 made from icon
s from the monastery
of Barsana in Romania
. The organ was moved from St Mary's Church, Nantwich
and rebuilt in St James by Harrison & Harrison
in 1987–88.
tradition of the Church of England and runs services on Sundays and some weekdays, arranges baptisms, weddings and funerals and runs a number of parish groups.
Haydock
Haydock is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. It contains all of the Haydock electoral ward and a section of the Blackbrook electoral ward. The village is located roughly mid-way between Liverpool and Manchester, close to the junction of the M6 motorway...
, now part of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Helens, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, in the North-west of England (postcode WA11 0NJ). It is an active Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the diocese of Liverpool
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
The Diocese of Liverpool is a Church of England diocese based in Liverpool, covering Merseyside north of the River Mersey along with West Lancashire, Wigan in Greater Manchester, Warrington and Widnes in Cheshire...
, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Winwick.
History
The original church was designed by W. and J. Hay and consecratedConsecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on 11 December 1866. By 1888 this had become too small for the growing population, and in 1889 plans were approved for an extension. The foundation stone for this was laid on 5 October 1889, the new church was opened on 25 July 1891, and it was consecrated in June 1892. The old church became the Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
of the new church. The new church was designed by Douglas & Fordham. In 1929–31 due to structural problems, the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, sanctuary and west wall were rebuilt and the spire was removed. Between 1988 and 1990 the church was reordered, providing a new chapel, St Alban's chapel.
Architecture and fittings
The original church was small and built of brick. It now forms the Lady chapelLady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
of the church. The new church is timber framed
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
with brick nog
Brick nog
Brick nog is a construction technique in which one width of bricks is used to fill the vacancies in a wooden frame. The walls then may be covered with tile or weatherboards or rendered....
ging on a sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
. This style was chosen because its flexibility would give protection against possible mining subsidence. The east end was originally timber framed but this was rebuilt in brick and render
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
in 1929–31. The interior of the church contains much dark-stained oak. The hanging rood dated 1952 was designed by Edward Hines of the Warham Guild and carved by Jethro Harris. In the Lady Chapel is a triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
dated 1999 made from icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s from the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Barsana in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The organ was moved from St Mary's Church, Nantwich
St Mary's Church, Nantwich
St Mary's Church, Nantwich, is in the centre of the market town of Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It has been called the "Cathedral of South Cheshire" and it is considered by some to be one of the finest medieval...
and rebuilt in St James by Harrison & Harrison
Harrison & Harrison
Harrison & Harrison Ltd are a British company that make and restore pipe organs, based in Durham and established in 1861. They are well known for their work on instruments such as King's College Cambridge, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Festival Hall....
in 1987–88.
Activities
The church is in the high churchHigh church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
tradition of the Church of England and runs services on Sundays and some weekdays, arranges baptisms, weddings and funerals and runs a number of parish groups.