The story of a church

MEMORIES will this week look at the history of a Crosby church.

The Grade II-listed Crosby United Reformed Church, on Eshe Road, is a rare surviving example of a well-designed congregational chapel.

Originally known as Crosby Congregational Church, it was formed in 1884 to serve the growing population of Blundellsands and Great Crosby.

Due to financial constraints, only the schoolroom, furnished as a church and seating 300, was built.

The Rev TH Darlow was invited to be the first minister and during his pastorate the church grew rapidly with congregations of between 200 and 300 on a regular basis.

The church committee then decided to build the church and new designs, which adopted the cruciform style, were drawn up.

The architect, John Douglas, was also responsible for The Nags Head Inn, in Thornton – work he carried out for the Earl of Sefton.

In March 1897, plans were approved and a tender for £5,700 from Messrs Hughes and Stirling was accepted – the eventual cost, including pews and all fittings, rising to £7,457.

The foundation stone was laid in May of the same year and the first service in September 1898.

The church was built with red flecked Runcorn sandstone and its interior dominated by an impressive timbered roof.

The pews with carved ends retain the original metal brackets and troughs for umbrellas.

The pulpit and reading desk, costing £60, were presented and paid for by the Sunday School.

The communion table was a gift from the Young Peoples’ Society, while the font, made of Caen stone, was also donated, in December 1900, from Mrs Rudler in memory of her father and mother.

The table, chair and cross in the south transept were also a gift from the family of the late Arthur Armitage who was a member for 39 years.

The only item from the original church that can be identified now is the brass offertory plate dated 1894.

The church has many stained glass windows, including those by the side aisle and porch in memory of various members of the church.

One commemorates Robert William Yule, beloved only son of Robert and Elizabeth, who died of meningitis in April 1934 aged 19.

The church also houses a war memorial featuring a fine brass cross and plaques.

The plaque bearing the names of those who lost their lives in the 1939 to 1945 war includes three civilians, Marjorie Smith, her son Russell and daughter Cynthia who were killed by the first bomb to fall on Crosby.

The church was given its new name – Crosby United Reformed Church – in 1972.

This was after The Congregational Churches in England united with The English Presbyterian Church in 1972 to form The United Reformed Church in England.

Despite the years that have elapsed, the church has remained completely unaltered and retains the integrity and completeness of its original design.

It also has its original, fully functioning and unaltered pipe organ and is still used for the purpose it was built – Christian worship in the independent tradition.