ONE of Warrington’s best-known landmarks is opening its doors to visitors this summer.
Warrington Parish Church, St Elphin’s, with its imposing 281-feet tall spire is one of the town’s iconic buildings. The 
spire can be seen from many parts of the town and even from the M6 motorway at Thelwall.
The building, an integral part of Warrington’s history, is open for tours or for people to look around until September 18, on Wednesday’s from 2pm to 4pm, and Saturdays, from 9.30am to 3pm.
The spire is the third largest parish church spire in the UK, and since 2008 the 
Grade 11 listed building has been an English Heritage site.
The site has been a place of worship since about 650 and the presence of a priest in Warrington was recorded in the Domesday Book. The earliest part of the church is in the chancel and the crypt, which survives from the church built in 1354 by Sir William Boteler.
This church was badly damaged by Parliamentary forces during the Civil War. Following this the tower was rebuilt in 1696 and the nave in 1770. The south aisle was added in the early 19th century.
Most of the fabric of the present church is the result of an extensive restoration between 1859 and 1867 by Frederick and Horace Francis. It was during this that the current spire was added. The bells were recast in 1698 and again in 1884. In 1950 they were recast again and the clock was replaced.
St Elphin’s is an active Anglican church and people are welcome to worship at services or find a space for a quite prayer and reflection.
St Ann’s Chapel in the church was founded by Thomas Massey, rector of Warrington from 1448 to 1464. Later the 
chapel was acquired by the Patten family who built a vault to bury members of the family, the last being Lord Winmarleigh in 1892. The Lady Chapel was founded and endowed by Sir John Boteler in 1390.
He and other family members were buried in the chapel. In 1943 it became the chapel of the South Lancashire Regiment. In 1976 it changed to the chapel of The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment and is currently the chapel is the Duke of Lancaster Regiment.
Pictured: The historic Warrington Parish Church of St Elphin, the church’s magnificant organ and the crypt.
