St. Gregory, Chorley

Introduction

Saint Gregory, Chorley, in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, was built in 1814-15, enlarged in 1831, and given a facade in 1845.

History

The first mission church at Weldbank was opened in 1774 by Father John Chadwick, the first priest of the parish. In 1810, Thomas Weld, later Cardinal Weld, gave Father Thompson the title to the lands on which the present church stands. The church was built and opened within four years, with the existing sanctuary and its distinctive arches. Dean Lennon, from 1870 to 1897, devoted his ability, effort and personal fortune to the development of the communities in Chorley.

Dean Lennon gave £10,000 to enable the building of Sacred Heart Church, opened in 1896. Baptistry and confessionals were added later, along with the lodge house.

Architecture and furnishings

The tower is the highest point in Chorley, especially when its old cross was replaced by the present model. The interior has a wide nave and concave sanctuary in one vessel, with engaged giant Corinthian columns. The church has a gallery at the north end carried on single and coupled Tuscan columns. The church is built of pebble-dashed brick with a slate roof, ashlar aisles and north front.

The church has a nave, aisles, narthex and a 4-stage tower with belfry. The north front is in Italian Renaissance style, with a single-storey pedimented narthex divided into 3 bays by panelled pilasters. The centre of the pediment is broken by a pedimented 2nd storey with corner pilasters and a central coved niche with a statue of Christ carrying the cross. The tower's 4th stage has a belfry of 4 aedicules surmounted by a belvedere with ogee cap terminating in a cross.

At ground floor level the centre of the facade has a round-headed entrance with voussoirs, Tuscan columns and fanlight with radiating glazing bars. Each flanking bay of the facade has a coved niche with a statue. The north end of each aisle has a round-headed doorway with Tuscan columns. The nave has 5 lunettes; the aisles have square tripartite windows except at the south end which is of 3 stepped round-headed lights.

The convex south end of the nave has 3 blind round-headed arches with an impost band. Tops of similar Corinthian columns between lunettes of the nave rise to a moulded frieze and cornice with modillions which carry round the whole. The interior has a flat panelled ceiling. The family firm of Catteralls, who built Saint Joseph’s Church, also presented the three statues, Our Lady, Saint Gregory and Christ carrying the cross, which feature prominently at the entrance of Saint Gregory’s.

Parish life

The parish is served by St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School and Holy Cross High School. The Men’s Guild was formed in 1927 to support parish schemes. The men of the parish enjoyed a men’s club complete with bowling green. The parish has a Rosary Group that leads the Rosary on weekdays before Mass.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Saturday after morning Mass. Marriage requires about six months notice to enable paperwork and instruction to be completed. Marriage, baptism and other celebrations can be arranged.