Church of Saint Andrew, Liverpool

The Church of Saint Andrew is found on Rodney Street, in the heart of Liverpool’s historic city centre. A formerly Scottish Presbyterian church founded in 1823, it lies ruined following a fire in 1983. The church’s main body was designed by Daniel Stewart, whilst the elegant façade was designed by John Foster. At the time, Foster was Liverpool council’s chief surveyor, and he went on to become one of the city’s most famous architects.

A specialist place of worship for Merseyside’s growing Scottish community, the church survived for 150 years, before closing in 1975. The later fire led to one of the church’s towers being demolished, leaving just the tower to the right of the columned entrance remaining. The Church of Saint Andrew is now on the Buildings at Risk Register, and efforts are being made to redevelop the site before it is too late. The church’s congregation have held services at the nearby Liverpool Cathedral since it closed.

An unusual, distinguished building, the church was designed in the Greek Revival style, complete with columns and the aforementioned square towers. The neighbouring churchyard houses a pyramid shaped monument, dedicated to William MacKenzie, a local railway pioneer. Rumour has it that the pyramid itself holds MacKenzie’s body, as he refused to be buried underground, for fear that the devil would claim his soul.