St. Joseph's, Wesham

Introduction

Saint Joseph's in Wesham, within the Diocese of Lancaster, was consecrated in 1886, its construction funded by The Willows parish and the people of Kirkham and Wesham.

History

The rapid growth of Wesham from around 1840 onwards, primarily due to the construction of the railway and the development of cotton mills and housing for workers, drove the need for a Catholic church in Wesham. The site of the church at Wesham Cross, where formerly an ancient cross had stood at the crossroads, was bought from Lord Derby. The foundation stone of St Joseph's was laid on July 13 1884 by Bishop O'Reilly of Liverpool. The Billington family of Kirkham were the main contributors of funding for construction, with one member leaving £742 and his sister Mrs. Ann Gibson £5,270, totalling £6,012.

The church, dedicated to Saint Joseph and with accommodation for up to five hundred people, was consecrated on Thursday March 18 1886, opening on the following Sunday, by the Bishop of Leeds. On the 21st July 2013, the parishes of The Willows and St Joseph's merged to form a single parish, The Holy Cross, named after the original chapel at Mowbreck Hall. In November 2011, St Joseph's became linked with The Willows, with the Parish Priest of The Willows serving both parishes.

Parish life

The parish maintains ecumenical relations with all church communities in Kirkham, Wesham, and the surrounding district. The coming of the railway and cotton factories in the area provided employment for locals and immigrants, resulting in a substantial increase in Mass attendance and Catholic community practice. Club Day is an annual gala-day event focused on celebrating traditional and current Christian themes and motifs.

Visiting

Under the direction of the first Parish Priest, Father W Wrennall, a school was built in 1890 and a cemetery consecrated in 1895. The people of Wesham contributed what they could, especially towards furnishing the church; many bought benches, while others helped pay for vestments, stained glass, and candlesticks.