Sefton - Cathedral of the Fields
A proper settlement usually has to have two main features: a church and a pub. What if there are both but the settlement itself is almost missing? St. Helen's church is in a tiny village of Sefton, so tiny that it appears to be non-existent. The Anglican church stands out, surrounded by the fields and it has been named so. It is more curious when finding it out to be one of the oldest churches in the area and one of the most beautifully decorated. So who has it been for? What is it doing in the middle of absolutely nowhere?
Sefton village is not on any main route, it lays between Crosby and Maghull, north of Liverpool, and one has to take an extra trip to come across it. It is a perfect hidden gem.
"Cathedral of the Fields" is the only Grade I listed building in the borough of Sefton. A private chapel had been built on this land in the 12th century for the Molyneux family, the Earls of Sefton who came with Norman conquest and have lived in a nearby manor until 18th century. It is believed that it may have been used as a Saxon burial ground before - so it is sort of a 'holy place' and this fact confirms a nearby St. Helen's Well.
We have visited the church during open days, in September 2019. The interior is simply jaw-dropping.
The extensive Tudor woodwork is phenomenal. The structure is mostly of 14th century, alternations and additions followed in the next centuries (the organs have been installed in the 19th century) but the main core takes you straightaway to the Tudor times.
The pulpit is Jacobean, richly carved wood and dates to 1635.
The oldest residents in the church are of the Molyneux family. There are two stone tombs effigies of Sir Richard (d.1290) and Sir William (d.1320). They both were the Crusades knights. Upon our vistit we met a far-descendant of the Molyneuxes; he came from Washington D.C for a few days to dig into his roots.
There are remnants of the early Norman chapel discovered during renovation displayed in the Lady Chapel. The other family associated with the church is the Blundells of Little Crosby.
Most of the stained glass windows date from the late 19th century, although there are few from the 16th century.
St Helen's is a working Anglican church, its running costs are only due to the heroic work of the Friends of the Church. We have also found some Polish roots.
The pews panels are richly decorated in a secular and nature motifs, and date to around 1590.
Just next to the Sefton church is Ego at the Punchbowl, a renovated old pub.
The scenery of this two structures is absolutely remarkable, this is one of the most precious places in the whole of Merseyside.