St Joseph, Ansdell

Introduction

St Joseph in Ansdell, in the Diocese of Lancaster, was built between 1909 and 1914 to designs by Pugin, Pugin and Pugin for James and Roger Taylor. The church was officially opened in September 1914.

History

The parish began with the first Mass on Sunday 16th August 1908 in the temporary church which is now the parish hall. The foundation stone was laid in August 1909 by Dr. Whiteside, Bishop of Liverpool. The first parish priest was Fr Robert Formby, who served for thirty-one years until his death in July 1945. The church was erected in memory of two brothers, and their legacy paid for the new church which cost £12,000.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of coursed squared yellow sandstone with red sandstone dressings and a graduated Cumbrian slate roof, in the Decorated style. The church has a detached north-east tower linked to the east aisle, with a tall 3-stage tower featuring a canopied niche with a statue and a belfry stage with louvred windows. The interior has 7-bay arcades with cylindrical columns and 2-centred arches, and elaborate carved reredoses to altars in the sanctuary and both chapels. The nave gable is divided by buttresses into three bays and features a lettered band, segmental-headed two-light traceried windows, a tall canopied niche with a statue, three tall narrow two-light traceried windows, and a low three-light window in the apex.

The clerestory of the nave has segmental-headed three-light windows and straight buttresses carried up as rectangular pinnacles with panels of blind tracery. The sanctuary has blind arcading at mid level and above that a two-centred arched five-light traceried window.

Parish life

Children's Liturgy is held at the Sunday morning Mass. In February 1989, a new parish priest was appointed and arranged a parish Mission to reinforce the ethos of a caring community.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish supports a food bank, with contributions welcome and necessary. The parish provides a repository selling first communion cards and Rosary beads.

The parish asks parishioners to notify them if they or a family member is admitted to hospital. The parish helped develop a church community in Burkina Faso, surpassing a target of raising £13,000.