St. Michael, Widnes

Introduction

Saint Michael's Church in Widnes, within the Archdiocese of Liverpool, was built in 1876-9 by Henry Clutton in red sandstone ashlar with a slate roof.

Architecture and furnishings

The main entrance in the tower has a pair of large board-filled three-panel doors in a Gothic opening with treble shaft treatment. The gables of the chancel and transepts have rose windows with stained glass, while elsewhere the windows are large lancets. The interior has twin coupled shafts with early Gothic style crocket caps that support Gothic aisle arches and a hardwood boarded barrel vaulted ceiling common to chancel and nave. The chancel has yellow sandstone walls and marble floors, whereas the nave has plastered walls.

The tower's entrance motif is carried upward to the three bell-stage lancets, which are framed by shafts with rings. The church is covered by a steep pitched roof with crested ridge tiles, surrounded by an eaves parapet formed as a continuous open arcade.

Parish life

The parish of St Wilfrid, Widnes incorporates the churches of St Bede, St Michael, St John Fisher and St Basil. The parish welcomes the Neo-Catechumenal Community, which gathers for two weekly sessions.