Church of St Paul, Liverpool

The Church of St Paul in Stoneycroft, Liverpool, stands as a Grade II* listed building designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, who also created the Anglican Liverpool Cathedral. Originally built between 1913 and 1916 with funds from H. Douglas Horsfall, the church has been restored three times, most recently from 1998 to 2013. It was sold to the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands in 2016 and now serves as St Mary & St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Church. The Coptic Orthodox Youth Society of the Liverpool Guild of Students plays an active role in the church’s life. Father Bishoy served as priest before Father Peter Farrington took over in 2023. The church’s architecture blends concrete, brick and stone, with a tiled roof and a large central tower topped by a pyramidal roof. The tower features round-headed bell openings with louvres and Y-tracery, while the west end has three lancet windows in an arched recess. The interior is plain, with exposed brick dressings and groin vaults divided into three bays. The chancel wall includes a canted pulpit, and the south transept houses a chapel. The north transept contains an organ loft and vestry, with a three-manual pipe organ built by Rushworth and Dreaper in 1916. Visitors find a serene space with a plain yet elegant interior, where the organ case from the 18th century adds historical depth. Two bells from the original St Paul’s Church, dating from 1775 and 1861, hang in the tower, restored in 1975. The church’s exterior includes rose windows in the aisles and half-hipped gables on the transepts. The surrounding area in Stoneycroft provides a quiet setting for reflection.