Visit the Church of our Lady and Saint Nicholas (aka Liverpool Parish Church), the city's oldest church and a place with a link to Liverpool’s maritime history. This was once the first and last thing seafarers glimpsed when sailing in and out of the docklands. Step inside to see artwork revered by and memorials dedicated to sailors then go outside to relax in the church garden while admiring an impressive cityscape.
The church started as two medieval chapels, one the 13th-century chapel of St. Mary of the Quay and the other dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. Gaze up at the 174-feet (53-meter) tall lantern spire, which is a recreation of the 18th-century original. Sailors used the lantern as a navigational tool. World War II bombs destroyed everything but the tower and the church was rebuilt in 1949.
Inside, the Maritime Chapel is a representation of the chapel of St. Mary of the Quay. See images of saints donated by Liverpool-born sculptor Arthur Dooley and a baptism bowl by the acclaimed potter Julia Carter Preston. Look for a sculpture called the Grail Boat, which depicts the journey of Joseph of Arimathea to Britain with the grail cup.
Sit in the flower-filled church garden, whose seaward wall was once touched by the river at high tide. Here, the Blitz Memorial honors the 1,700 citizens that perished during the Blitz bombings of World War II. Spot memorials to city-built ships such as HMS Liverpool and the wrecked MV Derbyshire. Since 2017, a local art gallery has installed a temporary art piece on a plinth on the church’s western wall.
Find the church located between Liverpool City Centre and the Liverpool Waterfront. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street railway station. There are metered car parks nearby.
The Church of our Lady and Saint Nicholas is open daily and admission is free. Visit the church’s official website to find out about classical music concerts, organ recitals and other musical events held here.
