St Philip & St Paul with Wesley, Southport
Scarisbrick New Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 6QF
Consecrated in 1886, the building has gone through significant development internally and to a lesser degree externally. The church building is built in the traditional shape of a cross, comprising a clerestoried nave, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, chancel, baptistery (now south entrance porch), vestry, and four stage tower to the south west corner which was constructed later.
The church is constructed from buff rock faced sandstone. It has pitched roofs of blue Welsh slate and terracotta ridge tiles. The ceilings to the nave and chancel have barrel vaulted plasterwork, with some exposed timber structures in the chancel.
The original Church of St Philip has seen significant organisational and architectural changes in the last 30 years since becoming an Anglican-Methodist Ecumenical partnership. This joining together was accompanied by a major refurbishment of the Victorian building, forming on the ground floor the Wesley Lounge, a Crèche Room, a Kitchen and upstairs the St Paul’s Hall which is a spacious area for youth and community activities. Latterly the pews in the chapel and nave have been removed and in their place are wooden chairs, purchased from a church which was closing. This gives the building much more flexibility as well as being significantly more comfortable. Community feedback is that we combine the best of the old and the new. In fact the most recent changes enhance the beauty of the building. Come and see!
Scarisbrick New Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 6QF
There is a building tour guidebook and online guide people can use. https://www.stphilipandstpaulwithwesley.org.uk/church-history-tour-intro/ There is also a paper quiz designed by the Arts Society for KS2 children. There will be people on site to answer questions. Refreshments will be available for visitors.