St Werburgh's Church, Birkenhead

St Werburgh's Church is a neoclassical building in Birkenhead constructed from pink sandstone with five distinct sections. The structure displays full-height angle pilasters, a pediment topped with a cross, and Welsh slate roofing that runs across the entire facade.

This church was built between 1835 and 1837 as the first post-Reformation Catholic place of worship constructed on the Wirral Peninsula. It emerged during a period when Catholic communities were gradually gaining greater acceptance in England.

The church is named after Saint Werburgh, an Anglo-Saxon abbess whose veneration runs deep in this region. Visitors can attend regular services and experience the building as a living community space.

The building sits on Grange Road and is easy to reach on foot. When planning a visit, keep in mind that regular services take place here and the space hosts community events throughout the year.

The building was deliberately designed to resemble a Greek temple, a choice made to reduce the strong anti-Catholic feeling among local people at the time. This architectural strategy reflects the challenges that Catholic institutions faced during that era.

Location: Wirral

Inception: 1837

Architects: Matthew Ellison Hadfield

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Website: http://catholicdirectory.org/Catholic_Information.asp?ID=32722

GPS coordinates: 53.38950,-3.02180

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:26