Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph Church, Prescot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph |
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Front Entrance
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 Church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph
Location in Greater Liverpool
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| 53°25′43″N 2°48′28″W / 53.4285°N 2.8079°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ4641392711 |
| Location | Prescot, Merseyside |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | https://www.ourladystjoseph-prescot.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Society of Jesus |
| Dedication | St Mary and Saint Joseph |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 19 March 1987 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Aloysius Hansom |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1856 |
| Completed | 1857 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Liverpool |
| Province | Liverpool |
Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Prescot, Merseyside. It is a special kind of church called a parish church, which means it serves the local community. The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, built this church between 1856 and 1857. Today, it is part of the Knowsley area within the Archdiocese of Liverpool. This beautiful building is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's important for its history and design. A famous architect named Joseph Aloysius Hansom designed it. You can find it right next to the Church of St Mary in the heart of Prescot.
Contents
The Church's History
Early Catholic Life in Prescot
For many years, before 1857, Catholic people living in Prescot had to travel quite a distance. They went about two miles to a place called Portico to attend church. Since 1790, there was a church there called Our Lady Help of Christians Church.
In the past, during the English Reformation, being Catholic was sometimes difficult. In 1583, a bishop named William Chaderton wrote a letter about the large number of Catholics in Prescot. He felt they were becoming very determined in their faith.
Building the Church
In 1856, an important change happened for Catholics in England. The restoration of the English Catholic hierarchy meant that Catholic areas, like the Archdiocese of Liverpool, were officially set up again.
At this time, the Jesuits decided to build a new church right in the center of Prescot. They asked a well-known architect, Joseph Aloysius Hansom, to design it. Hansom was famous for designing many churches for the Jesuits. Some of his other designs include the Church of St. Walburge in Preston and the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Manchester. The new church in Prescot was finished and opened for worship just one year later, in 1857.
Changing Hands
On September 28, 1932, the church was officially given to the care of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. This was part of a larger trend where many churches that the Jesuits had been looking after were transferred to their local dioceses. For example, in the same year, both Holy Cross Church in St Helens, Merseyside and St John's Church in Wigan were also handed over to the archdiocese.
Parish Life Today
The church holds services for its community every week. There is a Mass on Saturday evening at 6:00 PM, which counts for Sunday. Another Mass is held on Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. During the week, there are Masses at 12:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Both Our Lady Help of Christians Church and Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph Church have a special connection with Our Lady's Primary School in Prescot. The school's goal is to be a living community that reflects God's teachings in everything they do.
Gallery
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Doorway
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Statue above doorway
See also
- Listed buildings in Prescot
- Society of Jesus
- Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Portico
