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 | United Kingdom |
| 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 historic Roman Catholic church located right in the heart of Preston, England. It's looked after by a group called the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. This beautiful church was built way back in 1793 and you can find it on Chapel Street, nestled between Fishergate and Winckley Square.
Contents
Who is Saint Wilfrid?
The church is named after Wilfrid, an important English bishop and saint who lived a long time ago (around 633 to 709 AD). He was a key figure in early English Christianity.
Wilfrid helped start a special religious community in a place called Ripon. He also served as the Bishop of Northumbria during different periods.
It seems people in Preston really admired Saint Wilfrid. The city's original main church, which is now called St. John's Minster, was actually first named St Wilfrid's. However, its name changed over time. By 1793, when the current St. Wilfrid's Church was built, there was no confusion between the two churches.
The Story of St. Wilfrid's Church
How the Church Started
Before St. Wilfrid's, the first Catholic church in Preston after a big religious change (the Reformation) was St Mary's in Friargate. This church was started by the Jesuits in 1761.
But St Mary's soon became too small for everyone who wanted to attend. So, St Wilfrid's Church was built to replace it. Construction began in April 1792 and was finished just 14 months later, costing about £4,000.
The church was built at a time when Catholic churches in England were not allowed to be too grand or obvious. This is why St Wilfrid's is built parallel to the street instead of facing it directly. It also doesn't have a tall spire or a large open space around it, making it blend in more with the city.
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.
Making the Church Grand
When it was first built, the church had plain brick walls and a simple balcony inside. But soon, even more people joined the church, and it became clear it needed to be bigger and more impressive.
In 1878, new chapels and confessionals (small 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. This major renovation work was completed in 1880.
About ten years later, the outside of the church got a makeover with stone cladding and beautiful carvings made of terracotta and stone. Inside, fancy marbles from all over Europe were added to the walls and columns. Even after more renovations in 1996, the church still looks bright and welcoming today.
Interestingly, St Wilfrid's Church has kept much of its original design, even after big changes in Catholic church practices (like those from Vatican II). It still has its original altar rails and high altar, which is quite rare for a Catholic church today.
What Happens at the Church Today?
The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) still manages St Wilfrid's Church. Their community house is right next door on Winckley Square. They also 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, there's a parish centre that hosts various groups and activities. These include local branches of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Christian Life Community. The centre also has a bookshop that sells religious items like rosaries, missals (prayer books), and crucifixes.
Gallery
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Entrance to the church
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Side chapel in 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
