A Gothic Revival church of 1897-8, with major alterations and extensions of 1928, designed in a contextual manner. Church and presbytery make a positive contribution to the local conservation area.

The mission, established in 1894, was initially dedicated to St Oswald. Mass was said in St Henry’s school (also known as the Petre Schools) in Moscow Mill Street, which had been built in 1872.

The external walls are faced in coursed and rock-faced Yorkshire stone, with a slate roof. The plan is cruciform: the nave dates from 1897-8, and the side chapels and east end from 1928.

The west elevation has a projecting porch. Its gabled, projecting centre bay has the foundation stone of 1897 with a two-light plate glass window above. On either side are entrance doors. Above this porch is a five-light window with panel tracery and one transom. Its hood mould continues as string course on either side and across the angle buttresses whose finials are above the roof line. Above the three slit ventilation openings in the gable is an empty bellcote with a decorative metal cross. There are five lancets between buttresses on the south elevation, and six lancets and one quatrefoil window to the north. The side chapels are accommodated in three bays with cross roofs, each bay with a two-light window to the north and south, respectively, and a quatrefoil to the east. Below the centre north window of the north chapel is the foundation stone of 1928. The chancel has two lancets to the sides, and a five-light window with panel tracery to the east.

The interior is ten bays long, of which the westernmost is occupied by the organ gallery, and the three eastern bays have arches to the side chapels. The nave has an open, arch braced king post roof. In front of the glazed timber narthex are statues of St Patrick and St Joseph. The Stations of the Cross are painted on tin.

The Sacred Heart chapel at the northeast has a carved timber altar and reredos with a central statue of the Sacred Heart flanked by two painted angels. Stained glass in the quatrefoil above also shows the Sacred Heart. The chapel is also a memorial chapel and has a hand-painted roll of honour with each sheet individually framed. The south chapel has a small carved Gothic timber Lady altar and reredos, below a stained glass quatrefoil window with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A small extension off the south chapel houses the confessionals. Below the south chapel is the former boiler house (now disused).

The sanctuary has pierced timber tracery screens to the side chapels. The walls of the sanctuary have finely carved panelling (1935), incorporating the aumbry and the piscina. The timber font and forward altar are both modern. The reredos (1935) has the memorial tabernacle (1920), and two reliefs of the Annunciation and the Holy Family. Four carved panels mounted on the east wall show the Evangelists and were originally part of the pulpit. The stained glass of the east window shows Our Lady surrounded by nine saints, including St Oswald.

The foundation stone for the church was laid on 11 September 1897 by Bishop Bilsborrow, who also opened the church in July 1898. Church and presbytery cost about £4,000. The architect has not been identified. The altar came from St Oswald’s chapel in Accrington, the predecessor church of Sacred Heart, Accrington. The east window was donated by Mrs Caddick of West Gorton, Manchester. In May 1899, new Stations of the Cross were installed.  In April 1907, the side altars to Our Lady and the Sacred Heart were blessed by the Bishop and in July 1907 an organ and pulpit were installed. In March 1913, about 7,000 square yards of land adjoining the church and presbytery were bought.

In May 1920, two ex-army huts were erected at the back of the church to be used as a hall and a club. In October 1920, a new tabernacle was bought as a war memorial. In 1928 electric light was installed, a lychgate and stone boundary wall erected and Mgr Tynan laid the foundation stone for an extension of the east end, comprising a chancel and side chapels. These were opened by the Bishop on 23 December 1928. The builders were Messrs Mullen & Durkin of Burnley, who built elsewhere in the diocese (e.g. St Mary, Sabden, qv). The extension increased the seating capacity of the church from 550 to about 800.

In the 1930s new altar rails were installed. In 1935, a new altar and sanctuary panelling were installed, as a memorial to Fr Brereton, the first mission priest. The church was consecrated on 8 September 1948 by Bishop Marshall. In 1969 a forward altar was installed, followed by a new font in 1970. In 1973, a large part of the land acquired in 1913 was sold to St Vincent Housing Association.

Description

The church faces southeast. This description follows conventional liturgical orientation.

The external walls are faced in coursed and rock-faced Yorkshire stone, with a slate roof. The plan is cruciform: the nave dates from 1897-8, and the side chapels and east end from 1928.

The west elevation has a projecting porch. Its gabled, projecting centre bay has the foundation stone of 1897 with a two-light plate glass window above. On either side are entrance doors. Above this porch is a five-light window with panel tracery and one transom. Its hood mould continues as string course on either side and across the angle buttresses whose finials are above the roof line. Above the three slit ventilation openings in the gable is an empty bellcote with a decorative metal cross. There are five lancets between buttresses on the south elevation, and six lancets and one quatrefoil window to the north. The side chapels are accommodated in three bays with cross roofs, each bay with a two-light window to the north and south, respectively, and a quatrefoil to the east. Below the centre north window of the north chapel is the foundation stone of 1928. The chancel has two lancets to the sides, and a five-light window with panel tracery to the east.

The interior is ten bays long, of which the westernmost is occupied by the organ gallery, and the three eastern bays have arches to the side chapels. The nave has an open, arch braced king post roof. In front of the glazed timber narthex are statues of St Patrick and St Joseph. The Stations of the Cross are painted on tin.

The Sacred Heart chapel at the northeast has a carved timber altar and reredos with a central statue of the Sacred Heart flanked by two painted angels. Stained glass in the quatrefoil above also shows the Sacred Heart. The chapel is also a memorial chapel and has a hand-painted roll of honour with each sheet individually framed. The south chapel has a small carved Gothic timber Lady altar and reredos, below a stained glass quatrefoil window with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A small extension off the south chapel houses the confessionals. Below the south chapel is the former boiler house (now disused).

The sanctuary has pierced timber tracery screens to the side chapels. The walls of the sanctuary have finely carved panelling (1935), incorporating the aumbry and the piscina. The timber font and forward altar are both modern. The reredos (1935) has the memorial tabernacle (1920), and two reliefs of the Annunciation and the Holy Family. Four carved panels mounted on the east wall show the Evangelists and were originally part of the pulpit. The stained glass of the east window shows Our Lady surrounded by nine saints, including St Oswald.

Heritage Details