St Giles, Aintree

in the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool

Curates

Rev’d H. Crichton 
1948 - 1949

Rev’d M.G. Sheldon
1945 - 1948

Rev’d G.H. Green
1944 - 1946

Rev’d E Preston
1943 - 1944

Rev’d E.S. Wood  
1942 - 1943

The first church building was opened and dedicated on S Giles day, 1st September 1938.  The building, a combination of church and hall, was constructed of timber and cement and had a seating capacity of about 300 in the main hall.  There was a chancel at one end of the building which could be screened off, and a stage at the other.  Sadly however, in the early hours of 13 September 1941, a fire completely destroyed the whole building.
 
Without a church building, services and Sunday school continued to be held in Rose Cottage, Rosetta Cottage and Jubilee Hall. Eventually the Lancashire Education Authority built three concrete huts on the site of the former church for use as a day school, and by mutual agreement it was decided that the church should be able to use the huts at weekends and in the evenings for services and meetings.











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                                                       The Original Church Building - destroyed in 1941

Each week on Friday and Saturday, the school furniture was moved out of one of the huts and it was equipped for the Sunday Services, then on Sunday evening after the final service, the process was reversed and the building was prepared for the day school next morning. This arrangement continued until Easter 1951, when the new day school was completed and the church then took possession of the three huts on payment of a nominal sum of £100 to the Lancashire Education Authority.

Considerable alterations were made. A chancel and communion rails were erected at one end and an altar placed in position. The whole building was redecorated, both inside and out by the men of the church during their spare time and a number of pews were acquired from a disused school chapel at Newsham Park. When all the alterations and renovations were completed, the first hut was used exclusively as a church.

The last service to be held in this temporary church was Evensong on Passion Sunday, 18 March, 1956. For many this was a somewhat sad occasion, for the family of S Giles had become attached to the ‘Little Church’ because the smallness of the building had created a friendly and homely atmosphere. 

The present Parish Church of S Giles was built in the mid-50s and consecrated in 1956. It is on a site which lies between Aintree Lane and the Leeds – Liverpool Canal. The site also contains the S Giles Centre, our church hall, the Garden of Rest and the Vicarage.

Vicars

Fr J Williams

2012 - present

Rev’d Fr. B.A. Walles

2004  -2011

Rev’d P. Crean
1997 - 2003

Rev’d D.K. King
1971 - 1995

Rev'd A. Whittaker
1949 - 1970

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Rev’d R.E Hodgson
1942

Rev’d A.E. Peaston 
1941 - 1942

Rev’d Fr. O.R. Clarke
1941

Rev’d L. Mutt 
1940 - 1941

Rev’d H. Roberts 
1938 - 1940

Rev’d E.J. Button 
1936 - 1938

Past priests