Sefton St Helen's Church

Sefton Parish Church is one of the oldest Christian sites on Merseyside and the only Grade I listed building in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton. It was founded in 1170 by the Molyneux family, the local landowners. The tower and steeple and part of the North Aisle remain from a 14th century reconstruction. The bulk of the Church- chancel, nave, aisles and porch date from the early 16th century.
Major restoration work took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The latter was undertaken by the noted church architect, William Caroe, including a fine carved ceiling and restoration of the rood screen. The Church contains some of the finest Tudor furnishings in the country, with a set of elaborately carved screens, choir stalls and pews. There is a wealth of artefacts, ranging from 16th-century brasses of the Molyneux family to the 'Mouseman' furniture carved by Robert Thompson.
The churchyard contains 16 Commonwealth War Graves from both World Wars and the grave of the inventor of transfer printing John Sadler.
Sefton Parish Church received 3 stars in Simon Jenkins' book 'England's Thousand Best Churches', in which he describes Sefton as 'more than an oasis'.

Timings & Tours

Friday 06 September:

1330-1600

Saturday 07 September:

1100-1600

Sunday 08 September:

1330-1600

Friday 13 September:

1100-1600

Saturday 14 September:

1100-1600

Sunday 15 September:

1330-1600

Location & directions

Bridges Lane, Sefton Village, Liverpool, Merseyside, L29 7WG

Directions:

Easily accessible from the motorway net work (M6,M57,M58) along Brooms Cross Road (A5758) Turn right down Brickwall Lane towards Sefton Village and then turn left down Coachman's Lane. You will then see the Church ,directly in front of you.

Contact on day:

Mrs Jane Cave 01519242531

Telephone number:

+441519242531

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

There is reasonably flat access throughout the Church. Disabled access to the Church is via the Lych gate on Bridges Lane. A toilet is available, however it does not have disabled access.

Additional information

A three minute walk from the Church, down Lunt Road, takes you to the medieval well of St Helen, which was purported to have healing properties. On the north eastern side of the Church is the archaeological site of Sefton Corn Mill, the origin of which dates back to c 1595. The stone pathways mark the lines of the original walls of the historic mill. The River Alt was diverted to form a mill race, towards the very end of the sixteenth century, providing water to power Sefton Mill. By the early 1940s, the mill race had been filled in and the original Mill demolished.

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