History of St Paul's

The Parish of St Paul came into life on 7th August 1881 when the first services were held in St Ann's Mission Hall, Cambridge Street and on the same day subscriptions towards a permanent church were invited. The first sod for the new Church was cut on 25th March 1882 with the foundation stone being laid in the following July. The new Church was opened on 30th June 1883 but the tower was not added until twenty years later.

The Tower was recently renovated at a cost of over £40,000. The Bells are now working and were rung before the 1999 Candlelight Carol Service and rang in the new millenium at Midday on January 1st 2000 along with many other Churches in the country.

Among the early worshippers at St Paul's was James Prescott Joule (1818-1889), one of the greatest English physicists, famous for his research on electro-magnetism and for his determination of the mechanical equivalent of heat - a "joule" is the international unit of energy. A brass plaque marks the pew he used to occupy.

To see photos of the stained glass windows at St Paul's click here.

In the 120 years of the Parish there have only been nine incumbents.

The Vicar is the Rev Thomas Shepherd and he is assisted by a Reader, Deborah Prest , a Readers Emeritus, James Bergin, three Pastoral Workers, Karen Salisbury, Yvonne Kerridge and Diane Thomas and a Parish Assistant, Anne Ibbotson.

From July 1st 2007 the vicar has also been assisted by Kathy Kirby following her ordination as Deacon in Chester Cathedral and as a priest at the Cathedral on June 14th 2008.

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