St Bartholomew's

Overlooking fields that descend to the shores of the River Dee, St Bartholomew's is built entirely of local sandstone and is a splendid example of a Victorian revival of mid gothic architecture.

This is the third church to be built in Thurstaston. The original Norman church was replaced in 1820 with a plain stone building. Lasting only 50 years, this church was demolished in 1871 with only the tower remaining in the church yard as a reminder it ever existed. Joseph Hegan was a successful Liverpool financier, trading in alpaca wool and living in nearby Dawpool. Following his death, the executors set aside £4,500 for the construction of the new church. Designed by J Loughborough Pearson RA, the church was erected to Hegan's memory and was consecrated by William Stubbs, Bishop of Chester, on the 7th January 1886.

The west door is approached via a short path bordered by yew trees. Above the porch entrance is a small niche containing a statue of St Bartholomew. There is also a beautiful stained glass window dedicated to the saint at the rear of the church.

Like a cathedral, the church is divided into three distinct areas: nave, chancel and sanctuary, the impression being given of increasing richness, as one walks eastwards, culminating in an elaborately and finely sculpture alabaster reredos, representing the resurrection. Marble and alabaster abound, the floor of the chancel is an arrangement of many coloured marbles and encaustic tiles, the steps being all of marble. The pulpit is of alabaster, and richly carved in open latticework. The whole of the upper portion of the font is constructed of a solid piece of Mexican onyx, the pillars of Blue John stone and the base of three different kinds of marble. Several of the stained glass windows are very beautiful, especially the east and the west windows, and the organ contains painted wings in the early Italian style. The copying of the gothic system of stone vaulted roofing is particularly interesting.