St Clement's Church

I visited St.Clement Church on Sunday 28th June 2009. I have been researching my mother’s parent’s and I found that they were married at St. Clements Church in 1927 as they use to live at number 4 Dove Street at the time. I was able to contact Mr Paul Strickland who was really lovely and very helpful, he arranged for my mother to walk the same step’s that her parent’s had walked 82 year’s earlier, it was amazing to see her face. There were other people there that also gave us information regarding the church and the local area. Myself and my husband were delighted with the reception we were all given and we were in ore of the church as it has undergone alot of work recently and is a really lovely church. A very big thank you to Paul and all concerned. Julie

My great grandparents were married in St Clement’s Church in the parish of Walton-on-the-Hill (I assume that parish was very big) on 10 March 1989. It looks an interesting church. A pity it is currently closed.

Loved this site, I was baptised in St Clement’s in 1939 and have only just discovered its location. Drove past today (25.01.09) but unfortunately it was covered in scaffolding! Would love to look inside - and does anyone know where the baptismal records are kept? I would like to find out who my godparents were.
jcarmensmith

St Clement’s church in Toxteth is a small but well preserved example of a 19th century revival church, built in the style of a ‘preaching box’. It is a grade II* listed building.

The foundation stone was laid on 7th May 1840 and the church was consecrated a year later. Built in the lovely local red sandstone, the exterior is in a handsome but restrained Early English gothic style, with a small conical bell turret at the west end.

However, the exterior doesn’t really prepare you for the inside as, although there is plenty of gothic detailing (especially in the roof trusses), the overwhelming impression is that of a nonconformist chapel rather than a church: the nave is filled with box pews, still with their original numbers; there is only the merest hint of a sanctuary, and the east end is dominated instead by a double-decker pulpit.

The walls have generous galleries, supported by elegant cast iron columns which rise up to the roof trusses, giving the impression of a hammer beam roof, although the weight is borne on the columns. The resulting effect is one of a surprisingly large and bright space for such a small building. The east end windows are filled with simple but bright stained glass.

The area immediately around the church includes some sadly derelict land, and the church is need of some interior restoration, but is nevertheless well worth a look.

Services are in a low but inclusive evangelical style, with a small but loyal and welcoming congregation.