The history of St.Helens Parish Church
The church was originally a small chapel called “St.Elyn’s” located at the junction of the villages of Eccleston, Windle, Parr and Sutton. St.Helens Town was formed from these villages and named after the chapel.
The chapel was rebuilt twice before being extended and renamed to become “St.Mary’s Church” in 1816. For the next one hundred years the church continued to grow, opening schools and mission buildings around the town.
The Great Fire
On the 2nd December 1916, the church caught fire in the early hours of the morning and, despite the efforts of local firefighters, was completely destroyed. For the next ten years, the congregation met in St.Helens Town Hall. The new building was opened in November 1926 and named “St.Helens Parish Church”.
Timeline
| Date | |
|---|---|
| 1552 | Earliest known reference to “St.Elyn's Chapel”. |
| 1618 | Original “St. Elyn's Chapel” demolished. New chapel opened. |
| 1750 | Sometime between 1750 and 1780 a new church was built. During this time a tower was constructed. |
| 1816 | Major building work: Church Extended. The building rededicated and renamed to “St.Mary's”. |
| 1837 | Bells hung in the tower for the first time. |
| 1852 | St.Helens Parish created. (Church remains named as “St.Mary's”) |
| 1867 | Railings in front of church removed and the space flagged to become part of the Church Street area. |
| 1888 | Internal building work: New floor, new chancel, new vestry. Ventilation improved. Dangerous galleries replaced. New pitch pine pews, choir stalls, lectern and pulpit installed. The Organ improved. |
| 1892 | First Church Magazine produced. |
| 1894 | Gardeners cottage built at the Vicarage. Internal building work left over from 1888 completed: Parish Church replastered and ornamented. |
| 1898 | Installation of electric lights in the Parish Church. Parish Church painted and decorated. |
| 1899 | Restoration of the large East window after an explosion at Kurtz works in Peasley Cross. Renovation of organ |
| 1902 | Renovation of the exterior of the Church. |
| 1905 | Parochial Church Hall opened in Ormskirk Street. |
| 1916 | Church destroyed by fire on 2nd December. From 1917-1926 the Church meets in the Town Hall |
| 1920 | Foundation Stone for new building is laid. |
| 1926 | New Church opened. Church renamed from “St.Mary's” to “St.Helen's”. |
| 1973 | New Parochial Hall opened. (sited next to church) |
| 1994 | Foyer created at the back of church. |
| 2001 | 75th anniversary of the new building. Building work to separate the side chapel with engraved glass doors. |