Holy Cross Church, St Helens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Cross Church |
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| Church of the Holy Cross and St Helen | |
Front - Eastern Aspect
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| 53°27′13″N 2°43′55″W / 53.4537°N 2.7320°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ5148795464 |
| Location | St Helens, Merseyside |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | http://holycrosssthelens.business.site/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 23 August 1985 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph John Scoles |
| Groundbreaking | 3 May 1860 |
| Completed | 1 May 1862 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Holy Cross |
| Deanery | St Helens - St Monica Pastoral Area |
| Archdiocese | Liverpool |
| Province | Liverpool (aka Northern) |
Holy Cross and St Helen Church is a Roman Catholic church located in St Helens, Merseyside. It was built in 1860 by a group called the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits). A famous architect named Joseph John Scoles designed it. This church is considered a very important building. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it is protected because of its special history and architecture.
The Church's Story
The idea for this church came from the Society of Jesus, a group of Catholic priests and brothers. They started building it in 1860. The leader of the Jesuits in Britain, Father Thomas Seed, laid the first stone of the church on May 3, 1860. This day was special because it was the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross.
The church was designed by Joseph John Scoles. He was a very busy architect who also designed other important churches. Some of his other works include St Ignatius Church, Preston and the Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Liverpool. Building Holy Cross and St Helen Church took almost two years. It officially opened its doors on May 1, 1862.
In 1933, the Jesuits handed over the church to the Archdiocese of Liverpool. This is a larger church organization that has managed the church ever since. There is a special stone in the church that remembers this event.
Visiting the Church
You can attend Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM. Weekday Masses are held at 12:15 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Tuesdays, Mass is at 11:00 AM.
If you wish to go to Confession, it is available from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM before the 12:15 PM Mass. There are no confessions on Tuesdays. Also, a special prayer time called Exposition happens on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It takes place for half an hour before and after Mass.
You can enter the church from Corporation Street on the south side. There is also an entrance on Parade Street on the north side. This Parade Street entrance has a gate for easy access. The original front entrance of the church is no longer used.
In July 2020, another church, SS Peter & Paul in Haresfinch, closed down. Its parish then joined with the Holy Cross and St Helen parish. The priest from SS Peter & Paul, Father Kevan O'Brien, became the priest for the combined parish.
Gallery
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North-Eastern aspect of Church of Holy Cross & St. Helen, St. Helens, Merseyside
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Southern aspect of Church of Holy Cross & St. Helen, St. Helens, Merseyside
See also
- Listed buildings in St Helens, Merseyside
