In this area of Church there are many items stored which tell the story of the history of St Helens Parish Church, St Mary’s Church which was the building on this site up to the fire in 1916, and St Mary’s Mission and Barton Street Mission Churches. St Helen’s Parish Church is honoured to be able to give home to these items, which have come from church buildings and communities which have now closed. These items maintain the historical memory of communities of faith through out our town.
There is a large key, a replica of the one used in the ceremony where this Church was consecrated on 10th November 1926. This was donated to the church by Mrs Richard Pilkington.
There is a font which was from St Mary’s Mission Church and dates back to 1731. There is a table and a War Memorial relocated from St Mary’s Mission Church.
The Eagle lecturn was in place in the Old Parish Church and was placed there in memory of Queen Victoria. It was used to read the bible from until quite recently.
Separating this archway area from the choir stalls is a choir screen, donated by the Women’s Bible Class to mark their diamond Jubilee. Through the doorway to the right you would reach the Vicars, Choir and Flower Vestries. Vestry is a church word for a preparation or backstage area. We no longer have a choir and so the large room (Choir Vestry) is now a meeting room, but it was where the choir would put their robes on and run through hymns in preparation for worship.