In 1830 the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened and the district developed rapidly. Where St. Anne's Church now stands, was an iron foundry, standing back from the road. About this time the property was bought by Mr. Thomas Gardner, whose son, of the same name, was in Holy Orders, and married to the daughter of one Samuel Hilton, of Anfield. These two gentlemen, assisted by a grant from the Church Building Society, built the first Church in Stanley. Mr. Gardner (Senior) also built and furnished a house for his son at the east end of what had been the foundry offices, and the remaining land was laid out as a garden to the parsonage.

The Church, consecrated on October 13th 1831, was a plain building of red sandstone, with a low pitched roof, squat tower, consisting of a nave and shallow chancel with round headed windows. In about 1878, additions to the building, originally rectangular, made it more cruciform.
Set into the wall on the Prescot Road side of the church yard is one of the water fountains that Charles Pierre Melly built in the 19th century to provide a supply of clean water to the working class of the city. Only 9 of these remain and the 'Friends of Liverpool Monuments Civic Society' are trying to get the fountains restored.

On Saturday, September 27th, 1890, the new church of St. Anne, Stanley, built by Mr. Thomas Fenwick Harrison in memory of his father, was consecrated by Bishop Ryle. The church was designed by Aldridge & Deacon and is early English in character, of the style prevalent in this country between the years 1200-1250. It is of excellent proportions and beautiful design. The exterior is of Woolton, the interior of Runcorn stone. The stone pulpit, beautifully carved, was the gift of one of Mr. Harrison's daughters, the East Window the gift of his son. The East Window in the Lady Capel was the gift of another daughter, and the font of his grandchildren.

In 1830 the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened and the district developed rapidly. Where St. Anne's Church now stands, was an iron foundry, standing back from the road. About this time the property was bought by Mr. Thomas Gardner, whose son, of the same name, was in Holy Orders, and married to the daughter of one Samuel Hilton, of Anfield. These two gentlemen, assisted by a grant from the Church Building Society, built the first Church in Stanley. Mr. Gardner (Senior) also built and furnished a house for his son at the east end of what had been the foundry offices, and the remaining land was laid out as a garden to the parsonage.

The Church, consecrated on October 13th 1831, was a plain building of red sandstone, with a low pitched roof, squat tower, consisting of a nave and shallow chancel with round headed windows. In about 1878, additions to the building, originally rectangular, made it more cruciform.
Set into the wall on the Prescot Road side of the church yard is one of the water fountains that Charles Pierre Melly built in the 19th century to provide a supply of clean water to the working class of the city. Only 9 of these remain and the 'Friends of Liverpool Monuments Civic Society' are trying to get the fountains restored.

On Saturday, September 27th, 1890, the new church of St. Anne, Stanley, built by Mr. Thomas Fenwick Harrison in memory of his father, was consecrated by Bishop Ryle. The church was designed by Aldridge & Deacon and is early English in character, of the style prevalent in this country between the years 1200-1250. It is of excellent proportions and beautiful design. The exterior is of Woolton, the interior of Runcorn stone. The stone pulpit, beautifully carved, was the gift of one of Mr. Harrison's daughters, the East Window the gift of his son. The East Window in the Lady Capel was the gift of another daughter, and the font of his grandchildren.