Body Of Our Lady & St. Nicholas Church – Liverpool, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 24.430 W 002° 59.689
30U E 500344 N 5917566
The main body of this 14th Century church was destroyed by incendiary bombs during an air raid in 1940.
Waymark Code: WMJBDF
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/24/2013
Views: 6
As one can imagine such an old church site will have gone through many changes, and re-builds over the years. This church has had at least 2 unplanned part rebuilds the last one as a result of the WW II bombs.
The church was remodelled in 1755 and extended. It was believed by many people that this had affected the church spire and it had become unsafe. This was proven in 1810 when it collapsed and sadly killed 25 people, mostly young school girls. The current tower was rebuilt and completed in 1815.
In 1940 on 21 December the church was hit by incendiary bombs during an air raid and in the blaze which followed, the church was destroyed. Only the tower and the administrative block were unscathed. A great many interesting memorials to individuals and families important in the early history of Liverpool were lost, along with a set of stained glass windows, many of which also had historical links. Throughout the war worship continued in the ruins and in a series of temporary buildings erected on the site.
This part of the church was rebuilt between 1949 and 1952 and there is a foundation stone dated 14th May 1949 with following text.
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
THIS FOUNDATION STONE
WAS LAID BY
CLIFFORD ARTHUR
LORD BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE
14TH MAY 1949
A blue plaque with some of the church’s history mentions the 1940 bombing of the church and has the following text.
CITY OF LIVERPOOL
CHURCH OF OUR LADY
AND ST. NICHOLAS
Established as Chapel OF Ease
to St. Mary Walton
On this site 14th Century
Tower 1811 - 1815
Thomas Harrison, architect
Body of Church 1949 - 1952
Edward C. Butler, architect
replacing structure of 1774
destroyed by bombing 1940