St Oswald's Church, Old Swan, Liverpool

St Oswald's Church is a Gothic Revival building constructed from red sandstone with diagonal buttresses and ornamental carved details along its western facade. Inside, stone walls combine with painted concrete and distinctive hyperbolic concrete arches that support the main worship space beneath the elevated altar area.

Augustus Pugin designed the original structure in 1842 as a reflection of 19th century Gothic ideals. Following damage, it was substantially rebuilt between 1951 and 1957 under Adrian Gilbert Scott, who reintroduced modern materials and techniques while preserving the western steeple.

The church serves different congregations and holds services in multiple languages to meet the needs of the diverse neighborhood. It functions as a gathering place where people from various backgrounds come together for worship.

The church is open regularly and hosts services throughout the week at different times. Its location in the Old Swan neighborhood makes it accessible from central Liverpool for those visiting or attending worship.

The interior showcases an unusual blend of traditional stone construction with modern concrete elements introduced during the 1950s reconstruction. This combination makes it a notable example of how historical spaces can incorporate contemporary materials and structural innovations.

Location: Liverpool

Inception: 1957

Architects: Augustus Pugin

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://sebosw.org

GPS coordinates: 53.41200,-2.91410

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:41