St Bridget

Architecture, decoration and artefacts spanning a thousand years can be seen, but the present building is principally Victorian. Highlights include the Kempe stained glass, Viking Hogback stone, carved angelic orchestra and stunning chancel arch.

Welcome to the church of St Bridget, West Kirby. A holy place where Christians have worshipped for over a thousand years, and a place where God's love has been met and received by many thousands of people.

The earliest parts surviving and visible are the vestry doorway and some masonry in the north wall of the Lady Chapel, which are 14th century. The tower is mainly 16th century, built around an earlier core. There are eight bells, four of them over 200 years old, still in regular use.

There was a major restoration of the church in 1869/1870 by the architects Kelly and Edwards of Chester. They rebuilt the aisle walls and replaced arcades which had been removed in the 18th century. At that time, and in the years afterwards, many fine fittings were added, including the stained glass, carvings, ironwork and organ.

We display a list of Rectors from 1140 to the present.

There are many things to see in the church. The Hogback Stone, unearthed in the 19th century, is a thousand years old. The Victorian font is based on a Norman design and is wide and deep, allowing in theory for baptism of children by total immersion.

The stained glass is almost all designed by Charles Kempe. It spans almost his whole career, from the Chapel east window of 1870 through to the dormer windows in the roof of 1906/7. Look for the Christmas story in the south aisle, and the orchestra of angels in the chapel. Kempe also designed the ironwork and the painted and stencilled work above the chancel arch.

In the chancel is a 1689 memorial tablet to Jan Van Zoelen, who was probably with William III’s army on the way to Ireland.

The hand embroidered kneelers, all different, were made by members of our church community in the 21st century. A catalogue explaining their dedications and imagery is displayed.

For more information look on a table at the back, by the Visitors Book, or visit our website. Our Museum, in St Bridget’s Centre across the churchyard, is open on Saturday mornings.