Church Of St Stephen

The Church of St Stephen is a parish church located on Prenton Lane in Birkenhead. It was begun in 1897 by architect C.E. Deacon and completed in 1907 by Deacon and Horsburgh. The church is constructed of coursed and squared rubble, with a red tiled roof. It features a nave flanked by lean-to aisles and projecting east chapels, along with a chancel. The west end has a prominent five-light window. The south aisle includes stepped lancet windows set within superordinate arches, with paired lancets in the east and west bays and quadruple lancets in the two central bays. There is a doorway towards the west in a plain moulded archway. The church has a high parapet with a plain corbel table and a heavy turret at the western end. The lower chancel has a triple lancet window to the east, while the north aisle mirrors the south but has its main doorway towards the west, featuring a stepped moulded and chamfered arch within an advanced gable, topped with a statue in a niche.

Inside, the church showcases exposed brickwork with stone bands. The arcade consists of four bays supported by square chamfered piers with foliate capitals and plain chamfered arches, leading to a narrower western arch. Terracotta hoodmoulds are present above the arches. The roof is an arched braced King post design. The chancel features a steeply pointed arch supported by free-standing piers adorned with carved angel capitals, with another similar arch marking the sanctuary. The chancel has a keeled panelled ceiling. The furnishings, including the carved wood pulpit, lectern, choir stalls, altar rails, and altar, were all designed by Deacon. There is a brick sedilia with terracotta putti, and the east window serves as a war memorial for those who served in 1914-18, depicting Christ in Majesty.