St Wilfrid's Church, Preston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Wilfrid's Preston |
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| Catholic Church of Saint Wilfrid, Preston | |
North end of St Wilfrid's Church, Chapel Street, Preston
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| OS grid reference | SD5376529221 |
| Location | Preston, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | http://stwilfridsparish.uk/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | April 1792 |
| Founder(s) | Fr Joseph 'Daddy' Dunn |
| Dedication | St Wilfrid |
| Events | Remodelled 1879–80 Renovated 1996 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 September 1979 |
| Architect(s) | Ignatius Scoles and Samuel Joseph Nicholl |
| Style | Neo-classical |
| Completed | June 1794 |
| Construction cost | £4,000 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Preston |
| Diocese | Lancaster |
| Province | Liverpool |
Saint Wilfrid's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in the city of Preston, England. It was built a long time ago, in 1793, and is found on Chapel Street, between Fishergate and Winckley Square. This church is special because it is run by the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.
Contents
Who Was Saint Wilfrid?
The church is named after a very important English bishop and saint called Wilfrid. He lived a long time ago, from about 633 to 709 AD.
Wilfrid helped start a religious community in Ripon. He was also a bishop in Northumbria for many years.
It seems people in Preston really admired Saint Wilfrid. The city's first main church, which is now called St. John's Minster, was actually named St Wilfrid's originally!
However, that church changed its name in 1581 and again in 1770. So, when the new St. Wilfrid's Church was built in 1793, there was no confusion between the two.
The Church's Story
How It Started
Before St Wilfrid's, the first Catholic church in Preston after a big religious change was St Mary's in Friargate. It was started by the Jesuits in 1761.
But St Mary's soon became too small for everyone. So, St Wilfrid's Church was built to replace it. Construction began in April 1792 and was finished just 14 months later, in June 1794. It cost about £4,000 to build.
This church was built at a time when Catholic churches in England had to be quite discreet. That's why St Wilfrid's is built parallel to the street, not facing it directly. It also doesn't have a tall spire or a big open space around it, which made it less noticeable back then.
A Jesuit priest named Father Joseph 'Daddy' Dunn was the main person who pushed for the church to be built. He continued his work as a Catholic priest even when the Society of Jesus was facing difficulties.
At first, the church was quite simple, with plain brick walls and a balcony inside. But soon, even more people wanted to attend, so it was decided the church needed to be bigger and more impressive.
Making It Grand
In 1878, the church got some big updates. A new chapel and special rooms for confessions were added. The inside of the church was also completely redesigned.
One of the architects for this redesign was a Jesuit priest himself, Father Ignatius Scoles. His father, Joseph John Scoles, was also a famous architect who designed other important churches. The new building work was finished in 1880.
About ten years later, the outside of the church was covered with stone. Beautiful carvings made of terracotta and stone were added. Inside, fancy marbles from all over Europe were used to decorate the walls and columns. Even after more renovations in 1996, the church still looks bright and new today.
What's interesting is that St Wilfrid's Church has kept much of its original design, even after big changes in church practices. It still has its original altar rails and main altar, with very few changes.
What Happens There Now?
The Society of Jesus still manages St Wilfrid's Church. Their community house is right next door on Winckley Square. They used to run the nearby Preston Catholic College until it closed in 1978.
The church is open every day during shopping hours. It's a peaceful place where people of all ages can go for quiet reflection and prayer.
Next to the church is a parish centre. This centre hosts different groups, like the local Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Christian Life Community. It also has a bookshop that sells religious items such as rosaries, missals (prayer books), and crucifixes.
Images for kids
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The detailed entrance to St Wilfrid's Church.
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A quiet side chapel inside the church.
See also
- Listed buildings in Preston, Lancashire
- Diocese of Lancaster
- List of Jesuit sites in the United Kingdom
- List of Catholic churches in the United Kingdom
