IN BRIEF

The building of St Annes Church was commissioned by Lady Clifton in the early 1870s and named in memory of her aunt who was called Anne. It was built as a chapel of ease to the then parish church of St Cuthbert in Lytham to benefit the farm labourers and fishermen of the hamlet of Heyhouses, who had difficulty in getting to church on a Sunday morning. It was several miles walk ............and the path took them past the Trawlboat Inn, which was situated on the corner of Heyhouses Lane and Northhouses Lane (the building is still there opposite the Shell garage.)

The church was consecrated in 1873. In those days the lych-gate, which now is such a beloved feature of the main entrance from the town, was at the gate by the traffic lights leading towards Lytham.

The north aisle, Lady Chapel and Tower were added in 1900. The baptistery was added under the tower as a first world war memorial: this was made into a memorial chapel in 2002, when the font was moved up near the Lady Chapel.

Amongst the many features of interest in the church is the Heritage Mural, a giant tapestry, embroidered by the Church Broderers Guild in the 1990s, which shows places and events of note in the history of St Annes-on-Sea and its church. The mural has won several awards. For Group Visits one of our broderers can be on hand to explain some of the features of the tapestry.