An externally plain red brick Gothic church, with a rich interior commemorating the English martyrs.

A school was built in 1872 to serve the surrounding farming district. The church was added four years later to the designs of James O’Byrne of Liverpool. It contains a collection of relics from penal times, including vestments, missals and a skull traditionally said to be that of a martyred priest named Philip Holden but perhaps more likely that of Bl. Miles Gerard (Bamber). In 1926 new stained glass windows of English martyrs by John Hardman were installed to commemorate the church’s golden jubilee, and in December 1928 The Tablet reported that ‘a glorious shrine in honour of the English martyrs is gradually coming into being’.

Description

The church is in a simple lancet gothic style, in red brick with stone dressings, buttresses, slate roof, west porch. As with the same architect’s St Joseph’s Preston (grade II) an unprepossessing exterior conceals a surprisingly rich interior.

Internally it is a single vessel under an oak roof with arched braces and collars. The sanctuary area is elaborately stencilled. This and the oak sanctuary fittings and pulpit are c.1930. The church is something of a shrine to English Catholic martyrs. In addition to the above-mentioned relics, the lancet windows have stained glass by John Hardman depicting on the north side St Alban, St Thomas Becket, John Fisher and Thomas More while on the south side Lancashire martyrs are commemorated: George Haydock of Cottam, George Beesley of Goosnargh, Richard Herst of Broughton, Edward Bamber of Poulton le Fylde and William Harcourt of Kirkham. There are also texts on the west wall listing the Lancashire martyrs. There is a forward altar, made from re-used timber from the former altar rails.

Entry amended by AHP 17.09.2026

Heritage Details