Twenty four Gateacre Society members met on 8th June for a guided tour by Peter Woods of St Nicholas Church, Pier Head. more properly Our Lady and St Nicholas. A church or chapel has stood on this site since the 13th Century directly on the river embankment, making it historically the Sailors Church.
It was originally a Chapel of Ease for Walton Church until 1699 when the parish of Liverpool was created with St Peters, Church Street in 1704. In 1810 the tower collapsed, killing twenty seven, including seventeen schoolgirls from Moorfields Charity School.
In 1940 an incendiary destroyed the church but the rebuilt 18th century tower was saved. The new church was consecrated in 1952. The interior has some very interesting pieces of modern art including two pieces by Arthur Dooley, Our Lady of The Quay in the Maritime Chapel and Easter Lily in the Sacristy.
The Grail Boat by Greg Tricker depicts Joseph of Arimathea and Mary Magdalene.
The understated font is A York Stone bowl and stained glass. The gardens have bronzes Homeless Jesus, Blitz Memorial and a memorial to MV Derbyshire.
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