The Horsfall family had a practice of choosing nationally-known architects to design their churches and Robert Horsfall was no exception, choosing George Edmund Street to design St. Margaret’s. This was to be Street’s only Liverpool building although he designed several churches elsewhere. He is perhaps most famous for a non-ecclesiastical building: the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
The exterior is deliberately simple, being of red brick with stone dressings. The bellcote – above the point where the five-bay Nave meets the Chancel – is a simple timber structure. At the western end of the church, facing out onto Princes Road, stands a statue of St. Margaret. There are three rose windows on this elevation: one above St. Margaret’s statue and one above each doorway.
This exterior, though by no means unattractive, gives little hint of the glories to be found inside the church. The first impression to hit the visitor upon entering is that of space – profound and sacred space followed by awe as the richness of the decoration reveals itself.
Practically every surface of the walls and ceilings at St. Margaret’s is decorated. Of particular note are the Stations Of The Cross, the Wedding Feast At Cana (see page 12) and the Heavenly Host.
The Stations Of The Cross is a series of scenes depicting stages of Jesus Christ’s journey from His conviction to His crucifixion and these may be seen on the aisle walls.
The Heavenly Host are found on the ceiling where the Nave and the Chancel meet. Painted in a 14th-Century style which gives the viewer the impression that s/he is looking straight through the roof and directly into Heaven, each of the Angels is playing a musical instrument.
The ceilings of the Aisles and the Nave are decorated with geometric patterns based on plant life and religious motifs.
St. Margaret’s is blessed with some extremely fine stained glass. Much of this is original, by Clayton and Bell although the West window of the South Aisle is by Percy Bacon Brothers. Above: Two of the South Aisle windows. Right: Detail of the South West Rose Window.
In recognition of the quality and value of St. Margaret’s Church, the building is Listed, Grade II*, by English Heritage. This gives the church a considerable degree of protection against inappropriate changes being made which would damage it or affect its historic significance.