Church of Emmanuel, Cambridge Road Southport

A large very ambitious church with a big crossing tower, all in a “sort of conventional much traceried Gothic.”  Ruabon brick and red sandstone. The only distinguishing feature is the double gable of the transept. [Pevsner: N Lancs Page 231]

CHURCH, SOUTHPORT - Plans for the erection a new church in Cambridge-road, Southport, have just been accepted. Seventeen designs were submitted by local and other architects, and those sent in by Messrs. Preston & Vaughan, of Manchester, have been selected. [Builder 18 May 1895 page 379]

CHURCH, SOUTHPORT - On the 19th inst. the foundation-stone of the new Church of Emmanuel, Cambridge-road, Southport, was laid. The architects are Messrs. Preston and Vaughan, Manchester. The plan consists of a nave and aisles of five 19 ft. bays, having double transepts on each side. The aisles and transepts are lofty in comparison with the clearstory. The double transepts occupy the two easternmost bays of the nave, and the roofs finish below the level of the clearstory windows, thus leaving the clearstory, with its two long ranges of windows, unbroken from end to end. The choir is placed under a central tower carried by four stone piers, from which arches spring on each side. The tower will consist of a ringing chamber and belfry, and will be 100 feet in height to the top of the parapet. The outside is to have Runcorn stone dressings and red pressed brick facings, the inside Runcorn stone and terra-cotta dressings, and red and buff brick facings. [Builder 26 October 1895 page 300]

SOUTHPORT - On Saturday, the Bishop of Liverpool consecrated the new Church of Emmanuel, Cambridge Road, Southport, which has been erected as a chapel of ease to the Parish Church of North Meols. The site has been given by the lady of the manor, Mrs. Hesketh, who has also defrayed the cost of the sanctuary. The plan consists of a nave and aisles of five bays with double transept, chancel, and sanctuary. Among the special gifts are the vestry, narthex, screens, boundary wall, gates, &c., brass lectern, marble pulpit, and marble font. Apart from all these special gifts, the cost of the building has been about £18,000, and when the whole scheme is completed by the erection of a tower 105 feet in height and vestries, the total cost will be about £23,000. The church, which is Early Perpendicular in style, will provide sitting accommodation for 1,200 persons. Messrs Preston and Vaughan, of Manchester, are the architects. [Building News 22 April 1898 p582]

CHURCH OF EMMANUEL, SOUTHPORT — The new Church of Emmanuel, which has been erected in Southport, has just been consecrated. The inside dimensions are 164 ft. from west to east, 66 feet across nave and aisles, 104 feet. across transepts, and 50 feet. from floor to ceiling of nave and chancel. Five arches on each side separate the nave from the aisles, and two more the aisles from the transepts. A narthex terminating in north and south porches, with a western porch in the centre, extends across the west end of the nave and aisles. There is another entrance near the south transept, adjoining which is the baptistry. The chancel consists of the choir and the sanctuary, and above the former, carried on four arches, is the great central tower, 30 fee. square. The sanctuary is east of the tower in the east wall of which is a window of five lights, filled with stained glass by Mr. Kemp, the centre light being double the width of the others. The reredos is of oak. The centre panel contains a representation of “The Last Supper," in opus sectile by Messrs. Powell & Sons, of London. The sedilia and credence are arranged in the panelling on the south side, the former having a projecting carved canopy. The Holy Table and rails are of oak, designed and carved in keeping with the surrounding work. The floor of the chancel is of mosaic. The choir stalls and prayer desks, which are of Dantzic oak, have traceried fronts and are carved. On the north side of the chancel is an organ chamber. On the south side is a transept, forming the western portion of a future chapel, according to the original design. The only other incomplete portion of the church, except the tower, are the vestries, which are to be built behind the organ chamber. The pulpit is constructed chiefly of selected Derbyshire alabaster, but the shafts, strings, and base are of dark Ashburton marble. The font is of Caen stone. The floor of the baptistry is of mosaic, while light wrought-iron dwarf screens (with gates) divide the baptistry from the aisle and transept. The lower part of the walls of the building, inside, is faced with Accrington red bricks, and the upper with Aston Hall buff bricks, while the dressings are mostly of Accrington terracotta, with columns and piers of red sandstone from the Liverpool district. The roofs are all open timbered and boarded. The church outside is faced with Accrington red bricks, and the dressings are of red sandstone. The style is Early Perpendicular. The contractors for the foundations were Messrs. Wishart & Irving; for the superstructure, Messrs. Fairbridge & Hatch, both of Southport; for the chancel woodwork, Messrs. Pearson & Brown, of Manchester; for the pulpit and font, Messrs. Earp & Hobbs, of Manchester and London, who have also executed all the carving throughout the church. The electric lighting is by Messrs. Calvert & Co., and the heating by Messrs. Haden & Sons, both of Manchester. Mr. J. E. Wildman has acted as clerk of the works, and the whole has been carried out from the designs and under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. R. Bassnett Preston, of the firm of Messrs. Preston & Vaughan, of Manchester. [Builder 30 April 1898 page 423]

Reference        Builder 18 May 1895 page 379
Reference        Manchester Guardian 21 October 1895 page 6 - foundation stone.
Reference        Builder 26 October 1895 page 300
Reference        Building News 22 April 1898 page 582
Reference        Builder 30 April 1898 page 423
Reference        Pevsner: N Lancs Page 231