St Elphin
Warrington, Lancashire
Its very tall spire, at 281ft (86m), is the most arresting thing about St Elphin's.
Its earliest Christian associations are with St Oswald, King of Northumbria from 634'42, who was killed in holy battle possibly near the site of the church; a nearby well also commemorates his name. Saxon stone carvings and other remnants survive from around this time, as does the intriguing Winwick Pig on the tower's west wall.
The present building is said to date from 1358; after the Civil War Cromwell stationed his troops in the church following the Battle of Winwick Pass in 1648. It was much restored in the 18th century.
From then onwards the medieval chancel decayed and it was not reconstructed until 1849 by the famous architect AWN Pugin. He designed every detail, modelling his work on the old chancel, from floor tiles to ceiling, and from stained glass to vestry cupboards. Restored to Pugin's original design in 1970, it is one of the absolute glories of the church.