Church Of St Anne

Church of St Anne, a parish church built between 1889 and 1891, was designed by the architects Aldridge & Deacon. It is constructed from rock-faced red Woolton stone beneath a slate roof.

The church follows a conventional gothic revival layout comprising a nave, chancel of reduced height, a north transept, two aisles, two entrance porches on the south side, a tower positioned between the eastern porch and the Lady Chapel to the right of the chancel, and vestry and offices positioned on the north side of the chancel.

The chancel consists of two bays with an east window featuring plate tracery of five pointed-arch lights and three circular lights beneath a hoodmould. A string course runs above and below the window, with three small lancet lights at the apex. Below the window is a dedication plaque reading: "To the glory of God and in memory of Thomas Harrison this church was erected by his son T R Harrison A D 1889." A side chapel to the south has a simpler three-light version of the chancel window. The shallow north transept contains a rose window in its gable end above the vestry.

The nave's north and south walls are identical, featuring five groups of three-light pointed-arch clerestorey windows with a single light at the west end, all with ashlar dressings. A continuous drip mould runs throughout, with dentilated eaves mouldings above. The aisles contain four two-light windows in the same style; the north aisle has a single light at the west end, whilst the south aisle has a gabled porch at the west end. A continuous drip mould runs above the aisle windows with a string course below.

A larger gabled porch sits at the east end of the nave, featuring a pointed-arch doorway with ashlar mouldings and tripartite carving of a seated figure flanked by angels. The tower between the porch and Lady Chapel divides into three stages. One angle buttress extends part way up the first stage. Octagonal corner buttresses with pinnacles and gargoyles rise from the third stage. The first stage has a south-facing pointed-arch window with plate tracery and hood mould. The second stage features three small arcaded windows on three sides. The third stage, in ashlar masonry, has a single pointed-arch window on each side with pierced arcading on the balustrade above.

The west end contains a five-light pointed-arch window and a raised gable with octagonal corner buttresses topped with pinnacles, matching the tower. The north side of the chancel contains the vestry and offices with a square-headed window and mono-pitch roofs, with the entrance in the east end.

Interior stonework is ashlar Runcorn stone. The chancel holds a stained-glass east window and a marble reredos carved with a bas-relief last supper scene. Sedilia with carved canopies occupy the south side, with a pointed arch opening to the Lady Chapel. The north side contains an organ and a pointed-arch doorway to the vestry. Fixed choir stalls are present. A marble altar rail with blind arcading is matched by a pulpit to the left and font to the right, both supported on short black marble columns with white marble relief-carved panels above.

The Lady Chapel on the south side of the chancel features a tripartite stained-glass east window and side altar. The roof partly extends under the tower with sexpartite vaulting, and a pointed arch to the east section displays decorated capitals. The nave contains fixed wooden pews, some removed to the rear, a parquet floor, and an unpainted curved wooden roof with king posts springing from tie beams on jowled posts above the clerestorey windows. An arcade plate with widely spaced clustered columns supports equilateral arches to the aisles. The west end of the nave is partitioned off to form a narthex with a wood, steel and glass screen. Heavy steel beams formerly supported a lowered ceiling, now restored to original height except in the aisles.

The tower is accessed from the porch via a spiral stone staircase with a chamber at the second stage and a wooden stair to the bell chamber containing two bells.

A churchyard to the south contains the tomb of Thomas Harrison, the founder, marked with a Celtic cross in white marble.

The church was built to replace an earlier church on the same site dating to 1831. It was endowed by members of the Harrison family, who owned an important shipping line in Liverpool and were significant benefactors of the Church of England. Thomas Fenwick Harrison financed the church in memory of his father. Family members provided gifts: his daughter gave the pulpit, his son the east window, another daughter the Lady Chapel east window, and his grandchildren the font. In 1900, Mr Duncan Radcliffe furnished the Lady Chapel, including iron gates later removed. In 1914, Fenwick Harrison donated the organ. The nave was first partitioned in 1965, with major alterations undertaken in 1999 designed by Anthony Grimshaw.