Tourism honour for a fine old church
THE church of St Mary and St Helen, the parish church of Neston, South Wirral, will receive a unique honour later this month.
The handsome sandstone church, which features Saxon, Romanesque, Norman and Gothic Revival architecture, is the first church in this region to receive the North West Multi-faith Tourism Association’s Mark of Excellence.
A commemorative plaque will be presented to the congregation later this year, during a service to be attended by the Rt Revd Alan Chesters, former Bishop of Blackburn and now an honorary assistant Bishop in our Diocese.
The award is given to those faith buildings where much hard work has been don to share their cultural heritage and art treasures with visitors and local people.
Vicar of Neston the Revd Neill Robb said: “This award is a powerful reminder of the great splendour in art, created to the glory of God by our faithful ancestors in Wirral and Cheshire.”
The church is noted for the beauty of its stained glass windows, many designed by the great master of stained glass, Edward Burne-Jones.
One set of windows was erected by the local hero Commander John Monk (RN, 1791-1880). After many heroic acts in the Napoleonic wars, he was discharged with a severely injured hand and became blind in one eye. Not surprisingly, he was known locally as “Nelson”, after the similarly affected great admiral.
The Monk windows illustrate Biblical maritime stories, including Christ walking on water. Nearby is the medieval christening font where the local girl, Emy Lyon, later known as Lady Hamilton (Nelson’s mistress), was baptised.
It is thought that Neston church can trace its history as a centre of worship back to the fifth century.
In the 16th century the town became an important port and the largest urban settlement in Wirral.
It was the principal point of embarkation for sailing to Ireland, Spain and France from northern England.
The church benefited from all the resulting prosperity when endowments from wealthy parishioners came pouring in.
Its ornate reredos was brightly painted and gilded in 1970, rather controversially, in the style of medieval English Catholicism. It is one of many notable features of the church.
There are also impressive medieval mosaics around the high altar, and decorative Viking carvings, found under the present church building, are on display. One of these stones, dating back to the eighth century, features jousting on horseback.
A dedicated team of church stalwarts has worked hard to promote the church’s treasure house of art and history to the wider community and to visitors.
The team is co-ordinated by Peter Rossiter, the parish’s Vision Manager, who, like his father before him, was christenened and confirmed in Neston church.
Mr Rossiter, a retired University of Wales lecturer, is also the official Town Manager for Neston.
He said: “With the church being right in the centre of Neston, we feel responsible for looking our best, and we take a very full part in activities which promote Neston.”
The church has widened its appeal in recent years, practising the ‘ministry of welcome’.
Earlier in the summer heritage open days were held in Neston and nearby Parkgate. The church took a full part in these events, which were judged a great success.
Ever since those heritage days, the church has continued to be kept open every day for private reflection and prayer.
Parishioners are active on the pastoral front too, running groups for the bereaved, the young and the elderly. There are also regular healing services and a St Raphael healing group.
A £225,000 programme of improvements is well under way. An elegant community space has been created at the rear of the church, without in any way detracting from the beauty of the nave.
So far, the parish has not had to go into fund-raising overdrive nor has it yet entered on the treadmill of continuously filling in application forms for grants from funding bodies.
Mr Rossiter explained: “People love Neston church and have been generous in supporting our improvements without being badgered for donations.
“Also, I have found that parishioners are willing to work very hard to support our church and its development.”
Floodlighting of the church’s exterior is planned, as is the conversion of the old hearse house (for funeral vehicles) to use as an information centre.
Mr Rossiter is passionate about the church and about its role in helping to regenerate Neston, which like all small towns has faced difficulties in recent years caused by the centralisation of shopping and other facilites in larger towns and cities.
He said: “I believe in Neston, I really do, and I think we have a great future, with our beautiful church right here as a welcoming place in the heart of the community.
“We’d like to share what we have here with visitors from around the country and from around the world.”
A detail from the windows at Neston church
The Revd Neill Robb with Peter Rossiter at Neston church