St. Joseph's Church Darwen

Introduction

St Joseph's Church in Darwen was formerly known as St William's. Saint Edward's Mission in Blackburn Road was an offshoot from Saint William's R.C. Parish, better known as Saint Joseph's.

History

Saint William's Chapel was built in Radford Street at a cost of £480 and opened on the Feast of St Peter and St Paul in 1856, founding the Catholic parish of Darwen. In June 1864, when the Bishop visited for Confirmation, there were 102 male candidates and 143 female. In 1868 the teacher in charge of the day school was Bridget Kelly, who saw the school recognised and placed under the control of a Board of Governors. In 1870 a plot of land was bought near the top of Mill Gap from Eccles Shorrock at a cost of £650, with a further £25 for boundary walls, for the purpose of building a bigger church.

By 1883 there was a sum of £2,500 in hand for the building of the new parish church. The foundation stone of the new parish church was laid by Bishop Vaughan on 3 May 1884. The church was opened on 15 October 1885 by the Right Reverend Dr. Vaughan, Lord Bishop of Salford. The church was one of the largest in Darwen, well lit and heated by hot water pipes. The reredos, marble altar and tabernacle were donated by parishioners, and special fundraising events were held for the building of the turret.

Music and liturgy

The official opening of the Mission featured Weber's Mass in G sung by an augmented choir from Darwen, Blackburn and Preston. A children's Liturgy Group operates on Sundays and the Sacramental Programme prepares young people for the reception of the Sacraments.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Parents requesting baptism for their children are invited to share an information session organised by the Baptism Team. Couples must give at least six months notice before a proposed marriage date, and a course of preparation is arranged. Weekday mass and Benediction for school children catered for their spiritual needs during the time of a former priest.

Notable people and events

Bishop Turner sent the Reverend Father Desiderius Vandenweghe to take charge of the Mission in 1858; he remained as Parish Priest until his death on 26 March 1898. The priest was named as school manager for the rest of his life. In 1876 Father William Hampson, a native of Farnworth, was appointed assistant priest; he contracted typhoid and died at the early age of 24. Father Vandenweghe died in his sleep on the night of 25 March 1898 and is buried in Darwen Cemetery.

The priest continued to look after both Saint William's and Saint Edward's until the late 1880s. In 2011 the Parish Priest of St Joseph's Darwen became Parish Priest of The Darwen Catholic Parishes.

Visiting

In 1863, the children from Saint William's headed the Sunday Schools' section of the procession for the wedding of the Prince of Wales. All sub-contracts for the building were given to local people, making it the main source of employment for many in the town during that year. In 1961 Fr McKenna was responsible for a £17,000 extension to the church, necessitated by a tremendous increase in the number of parishioners. A scout group and Brownie Pack together with a Youth Club cater for the younger members of the congregation.