The Church of St Mary, West Bank in the County of -- Lancashire --

St Mary, West Bank: photographs by kind permission and © Hazel Easton 2015

The original St Mary's church, also known as Widnes Dock Church, was situated in Waterloo Road. It was founded on 23 Dec 1856; its registers date from 1858. Only the nave was completed, and the tower, spire and chancel originally planned were never built. Unfortunately the foundations were not sound, and the old church closed in 1901 when serious cracks were discovered.

A new site was obtained, and architects Austin and Paley were commissioned to build the present church, which is a large building of red flecked sandstone. At the consecration service, on 12 November 1910, the Bishop of Liverpool said: "I have opened and consecrated many beautiful churches, but no churches as beautiful as this and no church which, whenever I think of it, will bring back to my mind such hallowed and inspiring memories."