St John's Church, Wigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church |
|
|---|---|
| St John's Church, Standishgate | |
Front entrance
|
|
| 53°32′57″N 2°37′41″W / 53.5493°N 2.6280°W | |
| OS grid reference | SD5848906039 |
| Location | Wigan, Greater Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | StWilliamsParishWigan.com |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Fr Charles Brockholes SJ |
| Dedication | St John the Apostle |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Church building |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 24 October 1951 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph John Scoles (interior) |
| Architectural type | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 27 January 1818 |
| Completed | 24 June 1819 |
| Construction cost | £9,000 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary and St John |
| Deanery | Wigan |
| Archdiocese | Liverpool |
St John's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Standishgate, Wigan, Greater Manchester. It's very close to another Catholic church, St Mary's. Both churches were built at the same time in 1819. They were built in a friendly competition.
St John's Church was first run by the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. St Mary's was always run by priests from the local diocese. In 1933, the Jesuits gave St John's Church to the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The church is a special historic building, listed as Grade II*. The beautiful inside area, called the sanctuary, was designed by Joseph John Scoles.
Contents
Church History
The Jesuits divided England into different areas for their work. From 1623, the area that included Lancashire was called 'St John's'. This is why the church was named St John's.
Early Beginnings
Father Charles Brockholes SJ was the first person linked to the St John's mission. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1704. In 1740, he was sent to Wigan. He paid for a house to be built in Standishgate. This house had a chapel upstairs. It was built between Dicconson Street and Powell Street. Even in 2013, this house still had a secret hiding place for priests. It was hidden above a fireplace.
Building the Church
By 1817, more and more Catholic people lived in Wigan. They needed a bigger place to worship. A piece of land behind the old chapel was chosen for the new church. The first stone was laid on January 27, 1818. The church officially opened on June 24, 1819.
The new church cost £9,000 to build. It was big enough for 1,000 people. The church was 120 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 50 feet high. There was also a special gallery for the organ and more churchgoers.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the church was made bigger and improved. In 1849, the inside of St John's was decorated again. This cost £400.
In 1933, the Jesuits handed over the church to the Archdiocese of Liverpool. This meant that both St John's and St Mary's churches were then run by priests from the local diocese.
Parish Life
St John's Church holds two Sunday Masses, just like St Mary's Church. The times are set so they don't clash with the services at St Mary's. One Mass is on Saturday afternoon at 5:00 pm. The other is on Sunday morning at 11:00 am. Since 2018, St John's Church has been part of St William's parish.
More to Explore
- Society of Jesus
- Listed buildings in Wigan
