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St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church, Neston, Wirral, UK History Commissioned in 1840 by the Earl of Shrewsbury and the architect, A.W.N. Pugin, St Winefride’s started life as a school, but on November 3rd 1843, on the feast of St Winefride, it was officially opened as Neston’s new church. Only one other Wirral Catholic church - St Werburgh’s, Birkenhead - existed at that time. In living memory the anti-Catholic penal laws were still in force, and only ten years had elapsed since Catholic Emancipation in 1829.

The preservation of the Catholic Faith in Wirral is owed to the heroism of two families, the Stanleys of Hooton and the Masseys of Puddington, who sheltered priest chaplains at their ancestral Halls. Fr John Plessington, the future martyr, was chaplain at Puddington Old Hall until his arrest and martyrdom at Chester in 1689. A stained glass window in the south wall of St Winefride’s, erected on the 150th anniversary, tells the story of St John Plessington’s life.

Fr Ralph Platt, chaplain to the Masseys from 1790 to 1834, realising the need of a permanent church at Neston, began to collect funds. His vision became a reality nine years after his death. He was buried in Burton church cemetery in the grave thought to be that of the martyr.

The church has seen many changes over the years: starting in 1843 the small cottage attached to the school was enlarged by the addition of a kitchen and room over it, and in 1845 a vestry, coach house and loft were built and a well was sunk. The front of the house was again altered in 1854. Major alterations to the church were undertaken in 1852 on account of the increasing population.

The consecration of the church took place on 9th August 1939 and was continued on the 13th when His Lordship the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt. Reverend A. J. Moriarty, D.D. sang Pontifical High Mass at the newly-consecrated altar. The marble altar, rails and pulpit were the work of Mr. E. Forrest Blackwell of Salford. The Rood Cross with Our Lady and St. John replaced the original sanctuary lamp, and the church lighting was modernised. Other changes included the panelling of the chancel walls.

The last major improvement was in 1995-96, when a new north transept was created to extend the capacity of the church by about 100 places. At the same time the sanctuary was adapted for the Vatican Council’s liturgical reforms.

In 1993 the church was closed and extended to include a new wing in place of the Lady altar to accommodate a congregation which had outgrown the size of the church. A new octagonal altar was installed, Wood paneling was replaced with that from St. Laurence’s church Birkenhead, recently closed, plus benches from the same source and a new stained glass window was installed.- the work of David Hillhouse, Curator of \the Williamson Art Gallery Birkenhead.

A Mass of re-dedication was held on Saturday 24th February 1996 which was celebrated with Bishop Brian Noble and the church was reopened.

Architecture “Light and colour” are major attractions. There are 17 vertical Gothic windows in the extended church space, of which only five have no stained glass. Seven of the twelve fall into two categories; the first are of simple roundel design eg. St Anne with Mary as a child ; St John leading Mary away from Calvary ; the Good Shepherd.

Five of the twelve are of full stained glass: the Plessington window, the two splendid windows dominating the sanctuary (Our Lady and the Child Jesus, and St Winefride), St Joseph and St Charles Borromeo. The latter is perhaps the most artistic in colour and design, It was erected in memory of Charles Stanley of Denhall, owner of the coalmines under the Dee, and a generous benefactor. He is seen in prayer at the feet of the Saint, who is arrayed in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. (Charles Stanley was the uncle of the 12th baronet, Sir John Massey Stanley, who funded the building of St Mary of the Angels church at Hooton).

The more modern window of Our Lady Star of the Sea in the transept, and another Stanley window, near the north exit, are also worthy of mention.

The Rood above the sanctuary, partially hidden by the roof rafters, is a vivid reminder of the rood screens which dominated all pre-Reformation Catholic churches.

Noteworthy Features and Graves Another addition to the beauty of the church is the series of enamel Stations of the Cross of striking French design, funded by members of the parish and erected in the 1920s.

From its earliest days the grave stones in the cemetery speak eloquently of devotion to the loved ones who have gone before. Former parish priests and priest chaplains from Puddington and Hooton mingle with their parishioners.

Also noteworthy are the graves of Teresa Higginson, a focus of longstanding devotion; and the two Bishops; Joseph Gray and Gerard Tickle. The churchyard was laid out in 1851. One of its most striking features is the obelisk cross bearing the inscription

The Bell, possibly the work of Mears & Stainbank, is rung every Sunday to call the faithful to mass.