A functional modern dual-purpose church and hall. The dedication to St Bernard relates to the nearby medieval Cistercian house at Stanlow, stones from which are placed below the altar.

The parish was formed in 1968 and St Bernard chosen as its patron (after the medieval Cistercian house at Stanlow nearby). Ambitious plans were drawn up by the Cheshire Design Group for a complex of church (with a high peak copper-clad roof, central cupola and campanile), hall, presbytery and linking cloister. However, this proved too expensive and instead Mass was said in various locations until a chapel was opened at St Bernard’s School in 1971. In 1977 the present dual-purpose parish hall and church was built, incorporating partitions to form a worship space. The building is a very simple system-built structure which has been altered by the rebuilding of outer walls in brick. Inside a partition divides the hall from an area used for worship, which is simply appointed with basic furnishings. Stones from the Cistercian house at Stanlow were placed beneath the altar.

Heritage Details