Church of St. Clare, Liverpool

Nestled at the corner of Arundel Avenue and York Avenue in Liverpool's Sefton Park area, the Church of Saint Clare is a masterful example of late 19th-century ecclesiastical architecture. This Grade I listed Roman Catholic parish church is not only the sole Grade I listed Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Liverpool but is also celebrated as "one of the most imaginative churches of its date in the country," according to architectural historians Sharples and Pollard.

Constructed between 1888 and 1890, the church owes its existence to the generosity of Francis and James Reynolds, local cotton brokers. Designed by Leonard Stokes, the godson of Francis Reynolds, the Church of Saint Clare marked a significant milestone in Stokes' career, being recognized as his "first really outstanding ecclesiastical design."

The church's buff brick construction, accented with Storeton stone in Gothic style, features a slate roof, a single nave, a north transept, and low chapels on both sides. Its west facade showcases a seven-light window flanked by gabled porches, with statues of Saint Clare and Saint Francis above the doorways. Notable chapels include the Sacred Heart Chapel, with a saddleback roof and rounded windows, and the Lady Chapel, with a seven-light west window. Other highlights include a conical-roofed stair turret leading to the organ loft and a copper-clad flèche atop an octagonal turret.

Inside, the church features a ten-bay nave with internal buttresses and arches forming passage aisles and balconies, crowned by a wagon roof. The 1890 high altar showcases a triptych by Robert Anning Bell and George Frampton. Stained glass highlights include the Sacred Heart Chapel’s oldest piece (1906), a Catherine of Siena window (1912), and the Crucifixion in the east window (1908). The 1892 Steele & Keay organ, renovated by Henry Willis & Sons in 1920, is located above the Lady Chapel.

The Church of Saint Clare remains a treasured landmark, combining historical significance with architectural ingenuity, making it a must-visit for those exploring Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage.