WikiWirral Wirral's Biggest Online Forum
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,281
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
8 members (3 invisible), 8,629 guests, and 424 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
What song are you listening to?
by diggingdeeper - 28th Mar 2024 6:06pm
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
Kylix 1
cools 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
granny 3
casper 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 154
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 154
Apparently the interior of St. Werburgh's Church was quite a sight:

"St Werburgh’s Church interior before the horrendous modernisation in the seventies....you would find a gem. Inside it was simultaneously the most spooky and yet beautifully atmospheric religious place in Birkenhead. It had a four times lifesize bleeding plaster crucifix (Victorian era) painted in horrific pallid realism behind the altar and some towering black statues of the saints to the right and left. (Benedict and Werburgh I think). I once attended "benediction" there on a Sunday afternoon and the whole place was a feverish dream swirling in incense. A real time-warp place/experience. I hope the old altar-piece and that crucifix is still behind the horrid plastic wood wall behind the altar with which they covered it (if any of it still there.....I was last in Birkenhead around 1992!!). Seriously it was all spooky but really beautiful"

I myself was forced there mnay times as a pupil in the 1990's and it was strange enough then, but this older memory sounds far more gothic! Anyone have any old pictures of the inside?

Google Ads
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 683
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 683

I remember the old interior of St Werburgh's and it was very different from what is there today. The sanctuary was very classical in style, flanked by gianr pilasters, but what I remember most was the full set of apostles. These were life size statues of the 12 apostles (by Mayer of Munich) arranged around the church on plinths about 12 foot above the floor.

The church was "modernised" in the late 1960s due, it is said, to a massive infestation of dry rot.

The church, following the re-0rdering, has been described by the North West Catholic History Society as:

"An expanse of pastel pink reminiscent of a night club circa 1970 and an abundance of timber that would be more at home in a sauna or leisure centre."

I have not seen any pictures of the old interior, but the Diocesan Archives may well have some.

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 683
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 683

Found one, not very good I'm afraid. This is from the 1967 Diocesan Year Book.

Attached Images
stwher.jpg (436.2 KB, 172 downloads)
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 154
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 154
Wow. Very different! Thanks for the upload


Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
TheComputerLab
TheComputerLab
Wallasey
Posts: 1,315
Joined: May 2011
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
What song are you listening to?
by - 24th Jun 2007 9:06am
Popular Topics(Views)
5,069,780 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,865 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5