St. Michael's Church, Liverpool

Saint Michael's Church, also known as Saint Michael-in-the-Hamlet Church, is a historic Anglican parish church located on Saint Michael's Church Road in Saint Michael's Hamlet, Liverpool. This Grade I listed building is celebrated for its innovative use of industrial materials, being among the earliest structures to incorporate cast iron extensively in its design.

The church was constructed between 1813 and 1815 as a chapel of ease to Saint Mary’s Church in Walton. It was built by John Cragg, a devoted churchman and the owner of the Mersey Iron Foundry. Cragg purchased the land from the Earl of Sefton and funded the project himself. His collaboration with architect Thomas Rickman, though occasionally strained, resulted in a pioneering structure that creatively integrated cast iron.

The church was consecrated on June 21, 1815, by the Bishop of Chester, George Henry Law. It remains an active parish within the Diocese of Liverpool, serving alongside Christ Church, Toxteth Park, and Saint Andrew, Liverpool.

The church's construction reflects Cragg’s passion for utilizing cast iron in architecture. The walls are framed by a cast-iron skeleton, filled with slate at the base and brick above, finished with stucco. Notable features include parapets, battlements, and pinnacles made of cast iron. The slate-clad dado level of the walls was originally treated with a unique limewash mixture to mimic Woolton sandstone.

The church's interior features a six-bay arcade with cast-iron columns and a west gallery. The organ is located in the east bay of the north aisle. The stained glass includes early Gothic Revival designs, with notable works by Shrigley and Hunt (1916) and H. Gustave Hiller (a First World War memorial window).

Inside the church, visitors can find a marble font and a tablet commemorating the astronomer Jeremiah Horrox, who was born nearby. The stained-glass windows add to the church’s aesthetic and historical significance, making it a treasure of Liverpool’s architectural and cultural heritage.