St Austin's RC Church Open Day

[Blue70]

Following the announcement in February of the closure of St Austin's there will be an open day to commemorate this church on Saturday 23rd May 2015 from 12 noon to 5pm. The rear garden will be open and items and photographs available for viewings at Chaloner Hall. To submit historical photos, no later than 10th May, contact: The Office, St Francis Assisi, Earp Street, Garston Liverpool L19 1RT (open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am to 3pm).


Blue

[MaryA]

Thanks Blue, I always feel it is sad to hear of a church closure, usually because of dwindling congregations. Do they have any plans for the building?
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Ga ... stin.shtml

[Blue70]

There hasn't been any news yet Mary about what will happen to the church, graveyard etc. The Chaloner family helped to establish the church and they insisted on Father Ambrose (Richard Prest) taking charge of it, he was formerly at St Peter's Seel Street. My ancestor Esther Brookfield gave money in her will to Father Ambrose she must have thought highly of him like the Chaloners did and wanted to support him at St Austin's.


Blue

[MaryA]

I noticed from genuki that there was a graveyard too. I hope MI's have been transcribed too.

[Blue70]

I attended the Open Day today at St. Austin's. They still don't know what will happen to the graveyard. Anyone who attended who has family in the graveyard or an interest in the graveyard was asked to keep in touch. I was told that St. Austin's Parish Centre Chaloner Hall is safe and activities will continue as usual. There is a war memorial in this church but my blurry photo doesn't really do justice to it and it can't be read below but information can be found about this and the war graves in the graveyard elsewhere. I was most pleased to see the "Mouseman" including the name of Ambrose Prest (Richard Prest) the founding priest of St Austin's who was given £3 in my ancestor Esther Brookfield's will.

Here are some photos from today:-



1. View of the church from Aigburth Road




2. View of the interior showing the alter




3. Interior view of the western window




4. Interior view from western gallery




5. War Memorial by Giles Gilbert Scott




6. Rectors of the church on an original Robert "Mouseman" Thompson display




7. Side view of the church and graveyard




8. View of the presbytery from the rear garden




9. View of St. Austin's Parish Centre Chaloner Hall from the rear garden




10. Rear view of the presbytery and the church from St. Austin's Parish Centre Chaloner Hall car park




11. View from St. Austin's Parish Centre Chaloner Hall car park showing inscription on the building



Blue

[MaryA]

What a beautiful church, thank you for the photographs Blue, I love the mouse too!

[42aitch]

Hi Blue

Thanks for the photos, they are great - you have even managed to get me on the first one, right hand side looking at my ancestors graves with a distant cousin, Brian Reynolds, who was here from Oxford with his wife. He also has relatives with ties to St Austins and we found another grave on the day. He is the grandson of Thomas Reynolds who married my G.Grandfather's sister Ellen Croft. I had been asking about Thomas on the Forum a few years ago. Brian got in touch with me through a PM on this Forum and we have been able to exchange a lot of information on our Family Tree. We both had other appointments that day so couldn't check the whole graveyard, but I will have to get back there soon. When I visited it years ago it was very overgrown, but I must say it has been tidied up so I should find it easier.

I also took photos, must check if my War Memorial one is clearer. I was surprised that the church was much smaller inside than it looked from outside. We went in the hall and had a good chat and a cuppa and refreshments too.

Eileen

[Blue70]

Hi Eileen

When I took the photo from the other side of Aigburth Road I was concentrating on finding a gap in the traffic so didn't notice the people on the photo until later. What a coincidence that you're on it. I whizzed around as I went to Anfield Cemetery afterwards. I gave a copy of Esther Brookfield's will to a lady there who was interested in the mention in it of St Austin's founder Ambrose Richard Prest. It will go in the church archives so might end up in Liverpool Record Office.


Blue

[MaryA]

Although this event has been and gone, I don't want to lose Blue's photographs, so this post is moving here now.