This church is the parish church of Liverpool and is also referred to as the Sailor’s Church, for its relationship to the Mersey and its shipping. There’s been a place of worship on the site for more than 750 years.
It’s full name comes from the joining of two medieval chapels – one dedicated to our Lady of the Quay and one to St Nicholas, both associated with helping sailors. The picture below is a bronze statue of Our Lady.
The lantern spire was added in 1746 as a landmark for shipping. It unfortunately collapsed in 1810 killing 25 people and was rebuilt in 1815.
The current church dates from 1949 – the nearby docks were targeted by the Germans during the Blitz and in 1940 an incendiary bomb hit the church and it burned to the ground; only the tower remained. Outside is a lovely memorial to those who lost their lives in the Second World War designed by Tom Murphy.
The churchyard was dedicated to shipowner James Harrison who founded the Harrison Shipping Line – their headquarters are housed opposite. Some graves were removed but others remain under the gardens and some of the paving stones were once tombstones. A number of memorials linked to the church’s seafaring connection can also be found.
Louise Jayne's Blog 