Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Wallasey

The Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea stands in Wheatland Lane, Seacombe, on the Wirral peninsula near Liverpool. It is a Roman Catholic parish church designed by Edmund Kirby and built in the late 19th century. The building is listed at Grade II on the National Heritage List for England. Its exterior mixes Gothic and Decorated styles, with a slate roof and stone walls. A large rose window dominates the west front, and paired windows light the aisles. The church also has a gabled porch and baptistry at the west end. The church’s history begins in 1860 when local Catholics first worshipped in an upper room. A school-chapel followed in 1862, and a presbytery and school were added in 1870. A legacy in 1883 allowed the parish to commission a proper church. Kirby’s design opened in July 1889, and the building survived minor bomb damage in the Second World War. Later reordering after the Second Vatican Council and in 2006 updated the interior while keeping its character. Inside, the nave and chancel share a single waggon roof supported by round piers. The high altar and reredos, panelled in coloured marble, date from about 1900. Canopied statues of Our Lady and Saint Joseph flank the chancel arch. The east window’s stained glass remembers those lost in the First World War. The octagonal stone pulpit stands on clustered marble shafts. The church remains an active place of worship, combining its heritage with modern use.