Toxteth Park: Christ Church
Diocese of Liverpool
Church, 622034
https://christchurchtoxtethpark.wordpress.com/about-us/This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 369 879
This church lies on Linnet Lane, a quiet side road of suburban housing on the edge of Sefton Park. A large and important church, Christ Church appears at first glance conventional in design, with a long aisled nave and an apsidal chancel. The general feel is Evangelical. The architectural style chosen is Decorated, the mostly 3-light windows having geometric tracery, mostly filled with stained glass.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 945 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Built 1870-1 to a design by Culshaw and Summers. Financed by George Horsfall (a major local benefactor) at a cost of some £20,000.
Exterior Description
A large and important church, Christ Church appears at first glance conventional in design, with a long aisled nave and an apsidal chancel. The general feel is Evangelical. The architectural style chosen is Decorated, the mostly 3-light windows (exceptions are the two side lancets in the chancel apse and the porches and the 5-light west window) having geometric tracery, mostly filled with stained glass.
The gables are pointed and the windows have hood moulds with angel stops. The aisle buttresses have one steep weathering and bell-moulded bases. The steeple has ornate triple belfry openings with deep louvres, the tall central pointed light with a balcony on angel corbels and flanking shafts supporting the gabled and traceried hood, which extends into the convex spire broaches. The steeple has shallow angle buttresses.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
Unknown
Large, three-light east chancel window depicts the Passion.
Stained Glass
Unknown
North lancet shows the Nativity and Ressurection.
Stained Glass
Unknown
South lancet has Christ in Majesty and Baptism.
Stained Glass
Unknown
South aisle windows, from east to west depicting:
Nativity scene 1948 by Shrigley and Hunt
Clerestorey lunette with Four Virtues
Clerestorey lunette with floriate decoration
Good shepherd with Agnus Dei. 1909 by H Gustave Miller.
Three-light window dedicated to Canon Irving. 1922.
Stained Glass
1923
West front features a large five-light window. Part of a war memorial below
Stained Glass
Unknown
North aisle features windows, from west to east:
Christ carryinh the cross. 1916 in memory of Edward Asher Cohan and son Edward Molyneaux/
Parable of Good Samaritan. 1915 in memory of Henry Brocklehurst and family.
St Jerome, Alpha, Christ in Majesty, Omega, St Gregory, St Ambrose, St Augustine
Damaged window depicting Christ and symbols of the Ressurection.
Interior
Interior Description
The internal roof structure is highly complex due to the cross-gabling, with a hammer-beam roof in the nave, and braces radiating from the aisle piers to support the cross gables, reminiscent of rib-vaulting in timber. The hammer posts are in the form of turned balusters, and the arch-braces have floriate carved decoration.
The tall arcade piers are octagonal with bell-moulded bases and naturalistic foliate capitals, from which spring pointed arches. These have hood moulds with corbelled stops in the form of angels. From these stops rise slender moulded pilasters to foliate capitals from which the nave roof structure springs, a complex, fluid and innovative composition.
The chancel itself is approached by three steps, with a further step to the sanctuary and two more to the altar. There are commandment boards set into two blank arches in the south wall of the sanctuary, opposite the organ chamber. The chancel is more richly decorated than the rest of the church, with oak panelling and a black and white marble floor. There are quarry tiles in the nave and aisles and decorated encaustic tiles in the porches.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1930
Oak chest with plain panelling
Reredos
Donated in 1921 . Four identical angel figures flank Christ in Glory enclosed in separate niches within panels with carved tracery. The figures have been gilded. Frame is intricately carved and has an equally ornate cornice with birds and flowers.
Pulpit
1871
Portland stone, semi-circular with four brown marble colonettes with foliate capitals flanking inset panels with lunettes of green marble. A band of foliate carvings above this is topped by a moulded cornice. The bookrest is supported by a projecting stone panel with carved dove underneath.
Lectern
1871
Plain oak lectern
Lectern
1871
Plain oak lectern
Font (object)
1871
Octagonal, of Portland stone, encompassed by four angels whose wingtips touch. Base has alternate quatrefoil insets.
Organ (object)
1871
By C & J Whitely of Cheser. It is a three-manual and pedal instrument.
Plaque (object)
1920
Brass plaque on wall adjacent to organ chamber commemorating Canon Irving's wife, Anna Maria(died 1920)
Plaque (object)
1917
Brass plaque on wall over vestry door commemorating Elia Jane Brinsley (died 1917)
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 369 879
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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