Lancashire

Churches

A timber-framed church of 1879 by the Chester architect, John Douglas

The settlement of Altcar is located in rich farmland near the River Alt and Formby Point, north of Liverpool. However, what is now an area of intensive agriculture was once "carr" lands, i.e. a marshy area. Today the soil is rich, peaty, and still moist. Consequently buildings in the area have never lasted well, and this fact was taken into account in the building of the present church of St Michael & All Angels.

A priest is believed to have been at Altcar in the C13. However, the earliest record of a church building dates from 1429. In 1558 a chapel existed in the present church grounds. It was probably made of wood. In 1650 the surveyors of the Commonwealth government noted a church at Altcar, and in 1747 a chapel is recorded as being burnt down. The replacement of this building lasted until 1879 when it was demolished to make way for the present church.

Lord Sefton, who owned a large amount of land in the district, paid for the new church. He employed the Chester based architect, John Douglas (1830-1911), to design the building. Douglas was a successful provincial architect, who did a great deal of work in Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales, particularly for the Duke of Westminster. As well as churches he built country houses, schools, shops, and public baths. Douglas made a speciality of half-timbering, and built some of the best such buildings in Chester e.g. on St Werburgh's Street. Here at Altcar he turned to a timber frame with "black and white work", not solely for its aesthetic appeal, but also in order to withstand the shifting foundations that were a consequence of the underlying peat repeatedly drying out then becoming moist again. The resulting building is a charming structure with elements of the Arts & Crafts about it.

St Michael's comprises a nave with a lower chancel, a western bell turret, a south porch, and a vestry etc. at the north east corner. The timber framing of the external walls is everywhere rectilinear with the exception of diagonal braces at the corners. It is all joined with wooden pegs, and the infilling is painted white. Under the eaves of the nave and chancel is curved coving, causing the roof to overhang the walls. The bell turret has a pyramidal roof of red tiles (as have all the roofs) with, at eaves level, a rather neat and discreet louvre arrangement to allow the sound of the bells to escape. The south porch has an arched entrance. Carved above the apex is a circle with a cross and the date of building. This is flanked by carved lettering "Come thou and all thy house" - the words of God to Noah about entry into the ark.

Inside the church the wooden structure is evident everywhere. Arched beams rise from vertical posts to support the tie beams. Wind braces cross the common rafters. And down the south side is a curious narrow aisle with wooden columns. Many of the lateral and transverse beams carry carved Biblical scripts highlighted in gold: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" and "We have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ" are two such.

The chancel is distinguished by an unusual tiled reredos. The centre panel shows Christ breaking bread before Cleophas and Mary. To the left is St Michael, and to the right, Euphrasia. The design was made and painted by Craven, Dunhill & Co, from cartoons by Heaton Butler and Bayne. The whole of the piece leans forward at the top to prevent light being reflected. Only the west window in the church has stained glass. It is dated 1885 and depicts the baptism of Jesus.

St Michael's was extensively restored in the 1990s. In the early C20 the rendering was repaired with a cement-based product, and the timbers were painted with an oil-based paint. This caused rot to appear, and only the expenditure of £125,000 preserved this unique little church. 

View from the south east

The church is an attractive, well-proportioned building that suits its location.

Nave

The timber framing is adorned with carved Biblical texts high-lighted in gold.

Reredos (1879)

Cartoons by Craven, Dunhill & Co were painted on tiles by Heaton, Butler & Bayne.

South chancel window

All the windows of the church are straight topped, and neatly detailed.

Nave from the south west

A curious feature of the nave is the very narrow aisle on the south side.

Photographs and text © Tony Boughen