St Oswald’s is the culmination of a series of church designs by J. Sydney Brocklesby, including St George Derby (1920) and St Augustine Nottingham (1923) which were inspired by the Romanesque churches of the southwest of France. The quality of the stone carving is very good, and there is excellent stained glass by Harry Clarke Studios of Dublin. The church houses a shrine containing the Holy Hand of the Jesuit martyr St Edmund Arrowsmith.

The first Catholic chapel was built here in 1822, on land given by the Gerard family. The cast iron entrance gates and gate piers (one gate pier has been replaced in replica following vehicle damage) and presbytery appear to date from this time. The present church was built on the site of the old one in the 1920s, from designs by J.S. Brocklesby. The domed design is inspired by the Romanesque churches of the southwest of France. The foundation stone was laid in 1925, and the church was opened in September 1930. It is built of Darley Dale and Parbold stone; local labour was used to provide relief during the Depression. The church is notable for the quality of its stone carving (under the direction of Percy Howe, master mason) and stained glass (mostly by Harry Clarke Studios of Dublin).

The church houses the shrine of the Holy Hand of St Edmund Arrowsmith, who was from Haydock and was martyred at Lancaster in 1628. Preserved in a silver casket originally in a small shrine in the ambulatory designed by F.X. Velarde, the relic was moved to the Lady Chapel at the time of the martyr’s canonisation in 1970 (at about the same time as four new windows were provided in the chapel commemorating English Martyrs, also from the studios of Harry Clarke).

For a more detailed history and description see the revised list entry (link below).

Entry amended and new photos added by AHP, 16.01.2026

List descriptions

Church

The church was upgraded to II* by Historic England in May 2026. The expanded list entry can be seen at Roman Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith, Non Civil Parish – 1068462 | Historic England

Presbytery

G.V. II

Presbytery. 1822. Brick with stone dressings and slate roof. 2 storeys, 3 bays with one-storey extension to west. Garden front has top cornice and blocking course. Windows have wedge lintels and are sashed with single glazing bars. Flat- topped dormer has small-paned glazing. Elliptical-headed entrance has inset Tuscan doorcase, fanlight with glazing bars and half-glazed door. Gable-end stacks. Interior has open well stair with decorative iron balusters. Contemporary with Catholic chapel, now replaced by present Church. (q.v.)

Gates and gate piers

G.V. II

Gates and gate piers. c.1822. Cast iron. Square piers have open scrollwork sides and cornices, that to right retains pine-cone finial. Gates have decorative bands and spear finials. Contemporary with Catholic chapel, now replaced by St. Oswald’s Church (q.v.).

Heritage Details