Church of St Matthew and St James, Liverpool

The Church of St Matthew and St James stands on a hilltop in Mossley Hill, a suburb of Liverpool. Built in the 19th century, it is an active Anglican church designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin. The church is made of red sandstone with ashlar dressings and a tile roof, reflecting 13th-century style. Its plan is cruciform, with a nave, aisles, transepts, a tower at the crossing, and a chancel. The tower is described as monumental, with buttresses, a stair turret, and clock faces on three sides. The church is worth visiting for its architectural significance and historical importance. It is a Grade II* listed building and is recognised as one of the best Victorian churches in Liverpool. The church was funded by local merchant Matthew James Glenton, whose name inspired the church’s dedication. During the Second World War, it became the first church in Britain to be damaged by enemy bombing, destroying all stained glass windows. The church was restored in the 1950s, and a new chapel and church hall were added later. Inside, the church impresses with its majestic crossing tower and alternating octagonal and clustered piers. The pulpit is below the west arch of the crossing, and the font is made of alabaster. The east and west windows feature stained glass designed by Carl Edwards, depicting the Apostles’ Creed and Paradise Lost. The pipe organ, built by Henry Willis in 1874, was restored after the war. The vicarage to the east, also designed by Paley and Austin, is a Grade II listed building.