Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick Church, Oldham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Patrick's Church |
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| Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick Church | |
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| 53°32′21″N 2°07′08″W / 53.5392°N 2.1190°W | |
| OS grid reference | SD 92212 04731 |
| Location | Oldham, Greater Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | SMWSP.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Patrick |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 8 March 1993 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Mitchell |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 28 March 1869 |
| Completed | 5 June 1870 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary with St Patrick |
| Deanery | Oldham |
| Diocese | Salford |
| Province | Liverpool |
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick Church, often called St Patrick's Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the town of Oldham, Greater Manchester. It was built in 1870 in a style called Gothic Revival, which was inspired by old medieval cathedrals.
The church is located on the corner of John Street and Union Street West, right in the town centre. Because of its historical and architectural importance, it is a Grade II listed building, which means it is protected by law.
Contents
The History of Oldham's Catholic Churches
The story of St Patrick's Church is connected to another, older church called St Mary's. Both churches were built to serve the growing Catholic community in Oldham during the 1800s.
St Mary's Church: The First Catholic Church
A Humble Beginning
In the 1820s, there were not many Catholics in Oldham. A priest from Manchester started a mission to serve them. At first, church services, called Mass, were held in a simple room above some shops. Later, the meeting place moved to a room above a pub called the Harp and Shamrock.
As more people joined, they needed a bigger space. In 1829, the community began renting a former chapel on Lord Street.
Building a Proper Church
When the lease on the chapel ran out, it was time to build a permanent church. A priest named Father Adam George Fisher raised money for the project. Building work for St Mary's Church began in 1837, and it officially opened on March 3, 1839.
In the 1860s, the church was damaged during riots, and many of its windows were broken. It was repaired and reopened in 1867 after a big renovation. St Mary's is the oldest Catholic church in Oldham.
St Patrick's Church: A New Church for a Growing Town
Why Was a New Church Needed?
By the 1850s, the Catholic community in Oldham had grown so much that St Mary's was getting crowded. In 1858, a new mission was started from St Patrick's to help. At first, they used a small chapel on Foundry Street.
By 1862, St Patrick's became its own independent church. The leaders knew they needed a much larger building for all the new members of the congregation.
Construction of St Patrick's
The land for the new church on Union Street was donated by a man named John Lees Ainsworth. On March 28, 1869, the first stone, called the foundation stone, was laid. The church was designed by a local architect, Thomas Mitchell.
The building was finished just over a year later. The first Mass was held in the new St Patrick's Church on June 5, 1870.
Improving the Church
Over the years, St Patrick's was made even more beautiful. In 1873, a decorative high altar and a screen behind it called a reredos were added. A house for the priests, known as a presbytery, was built next door in 1898.
Between 1906 and 1907, the inside of the church was updated with new floors, side altars, seating, and a new side porch.
The Parish Today
Today, St Mary's Church and St Patrick's Church work together as one parish, called St Mary with St Patrick. This means they share priests and serve the same community.
If you want to attend a service, St Patrick's Church holds three Masses on Sundays: at 10:00 am, 12:30 pm (this one is in Polish), and 6:00 pm. St Mary's Church has one Sunday Mass at 11:30 am.
Inside St Patrick's Church
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The beautiful interior of St Patrick's Church.
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford
