The Foundation stone was laid on 16th February 1854, and the church, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Style, was consecrated on 10th July 1856. The First incumbent was nominated by the Rector of Wallasey, succeeding nominations being placed in the hand of the Bishop of Chester. By agreement, fees of St James remained payable to the Rector of St Hilary until his death in August 1867 when St James became a separate Ecclesiastical Parish. Being in an exposed position, St James has suffered gale damage on a number of occasions and in the 1939-45 War when many of the glass windows and the spire were damaged.
LIST OF VICARS (Photo 2)
1856 Richard Drake Fowell MA (Photo 1)
1887 James Francis Howson
1889 Charles Henry Hylton Stewart MA
1905 Francis Tilney Stonex MA
1919 Charles Dodge
1934 William Samuel Coad MA
1944 William Lee Beckles Goodwin MA
1955 Cecil Maldwyn Jerman BA
1975 Henry Baguley
1989 Anthony J Jeynes AKC
1996 Christopher Boyce
2004 Canon Frank CainTIMELINE
1856 The First Churchwardens were George H Lawrence, a merchant, and William R Coulbourn, joint owner of the New Brighton Ferry. The sexton was Tobias Cooper of Mount Pleasant Road.
1860 Gas lighting was introduced, the previous oil lamps being found insufficient for lighting the Church, and very expensive.
1867 The heating pipes were extended into the transepts and the Chancel, also a new boiler was installed.
1868 It was discovered that the roof had shifted its position, either from external pressure or from severe gales, or from a constructional defect. It was pressing heavily on to the south side of the Church. Repairs were effected at a cost of £357
1877 Gales damaged the weather vane and the spire. The weather vane was removed: the lightning conductor takes its place now.
1888 Hymns Ancient and modern were first used. Surplices were introduced for the Choir.
1891 Lantern services were held in the Church, slides being projected on a sheet hung between the pillars.
1893 A gale damaged the chancel roof and destroyed the chancel windows, which had been Made by Pilkington's of St Helens. Damage was also suffered to the gates and the West Door.
1894 Following the damage to the Church Windows the previous year, many windows were fitted with guards.
1896 A fire broke out in the heating apparatus chamber: it was speedily extinguished by the "Brigade".
1900 Electric Lighting was installed in the Church, a gift of W G Ellery. In that year secular activities flourished: There was a Working Men's Institute, A Young Men's Association, a Temperance Society, a Mother's Union, and a Girls Friendly Society.
1909 Extensive damage was caused when the gas main was fractured. The explosion destroyed the organ, blowing organ pipes through the church windows and even on to adjacent houses. Many houses windows were broken including the vicarage.
1910 Death of Frederick North one of the Church's most generous benefactors.
1920 The Parochial Church Council was formed. The Vicarage was modernised, including the installation of electric light.
1924Church organisations included 860 children in the Sunday school, 70 Scouts and a Company of Girl Guides.
1929 Lifeboat Service was inaugurated.
1932 Floodlighting and rewiring of the Church completed.
1940 Blitz damage, some stained glass damaged.
1941 The mooring ropes of an escaped barrage balloon, a device used to try and stop bombers getting too close to certain "targets", became wrapped around the spire, repairs cost £34. Gates and railings were removed for the War Effort. (Photo 3 )
1950 Rebuilding of the railings and gates.
1954 The carved figures on the spire located in niches were beyond repair and removed. The south wing of the vicarage was remodelled as a separate flat.
1958 An electric motor replaced the manual bell rope.
1961 The matins service was televised on 16th July. The Choir from Emmanuel was merged with the St James one for the occasion.
1962 Microphones and speakers were installed.
1966 The oil fired boiler was replaced and was replaced with a gas one.
1977 The very rear pews were removed to make space for Church literature etc.
1980 The Church Hall was sold to the Sea Cadet Corps.DAUGHTER CHURCHES
EMMANUEL CHURCH
As early as 1875 it was suggested that a church at the upper end of New Brighton be provided for Anglicans in New Brighton. In 1879 an "Iron Building" on the site of the present Emmanuel Church in Seabank Road, and known as the Mission Chapel, was licensed for divine worship. The iron church had seating for 400 communicants.
Fund raising for a second more substantial church began in 1897.The church was designed by Mr C E Deacon, and the eastern portion consecrated in 1900. The building was not completed until 1909 and in the same year was separated from that of St James.
MISSION CHURCH IN FIELD ROAD
As early as 1892 it was suggested that a Church be provided for those in the Upper Brighton area. A small chapel was built in Field Road. It was called the Church of the Good Shepherd.
ALL SAINTS' CHURCH
The first services in All Saints were held on Whitsunday 1919 in temporary premises. The plans for a permanent church were submitted by Sir Giles Scott RA in 1927 and the foundation stone was laid on 9th July 1927. Sir Frederick North's trustees gave a donation of £7,000 towards the cost of the new church on the proviso that it was built within seven years of his gift. The Church constitutes a separate parish on 21st march 1929. The nave was only completed in 1939 and the Sanctuary after hostilities.
REFERENCES and FURTHER READING
The Rise and Progress of Wallasey
by E Cuthbert Woods and P Culverwell Brown 1960.
History of the Parish Church of St James New Brighton.
by V N Barwick 1980.
The Inviting Shore - A Social History of New Brighton Part One 1830 - 1939
by Anthony M Millar. Published by Countyvise.
Yesterday's Wirral No 5, Wallasey, New Brighton and Moreton
by Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey. Published from "The Nook", Acrefield Road, Prenton CH42 8LD (No pictures of St James but a good overview of old New Brighton)