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 | SD9221204731 |
| Location | Oldham, Greater Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| 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 church in Oldham, England. It was started in 1858 and finished in 1870. You can find it in the town centre, near Oldham Sixth Form College. This church has a special Gothic Revival style. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place.
Contents
Church History
St Mary's Church: The First Catholic Church
How it Started
In the 1820s, many Catholic people lived in Oldham. A priest from St Augustine's Church in Manchester came to help them. He set up a "mission" in the town. A mission is like a new church community. At first, they held Mass (their main worship service) in a room above a shop. Later, they moved to a room above a pub.
In 1829, more and more people joined the church. So, a priest named Fr James Fisher rented an old chapel on Lord Street. This gave them a bigger place to worship.
Building the Church
When the rental agreement ended, Fr Adam George Fisher, who was Fr James Fisher's nephew, helped raise money. They wanted to build a brand new church. Building started in 1837. The church was designed by an architect named Matthew Ellison Hadfield.
The new church opened on March 3, 1839. From 1844 to 1857, the church also had a burial ground. In the 1850s, they added a Lady Chapel and a baptistery. A baptistery is where baptisms take place.
In 1861, the church was damaged during some local unrest. Most of the damage was to the windows. In 1867, the church was reopened after a big repair project. This was paid for by money raised by Fr Grymonprez. St Mary's Church is the oldest Catholic church in Oldham.
St Patrick's Church: A New Beginning
Starting St Patrick's
In 1858, St Patrick's Church began as a "chapel of ease" for St Mary's Church. A chapel of ease is a smaller church that helps a larger main church. Fr Conway bought an existing chapel on Foundry Street for Mass. This made it easier for people in the town centre to attend services.
In 1862, St Patrick's Church became independent from St Mary's. That same year, a priest named Fr Brindle planned for a larger church. More people were joining, and they needed more space. John Lees Ainsworth gave them the land for the new church on Union Street.
Building the New Church
The foundation stone for the new St Patrick's Church was laid on March 28, 1869. The church was designed by Thomas Mitchell, an architect from Oldham. The building company was Finnegans of Manchester. The church was finished on June 5, 1870, and the first Mass was held there.
Church Improvements
In 1873, a new main altar and a reredos were added. A reredos is a decorative screen behind the altar. These were designed by George Goldie. In 1898, the "presbytery" was built. This is the house where the priests live.
The next year, in 1899, the schools on Foundry Street were rebuilt. From 1906 to 1907, the inside of the church was updated. They added new floors, side altars, confessionals (where people confess their sins), altar rails, a side porch, and new seating.
Parish Life
Today, St Mary's Church is part of the same "parish" as St Patrick's Church. A parish is a local church community. St Patrick's Church helps serve St Mary's.
St Patrick's Church has three Masses on a Sunday. These are at 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM (which is in Polish), and 6:00 PM. St Mary's Church has one Sunday Mass, which is at 11:30 AM.
Interior Views
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St Patrick's Church interior
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford
