St. Mary (Queen of Peace), Sabden

Introduction

Saint Mary (Queen of Peace) in Sabden, in the Diocese of Salford, began as an out-station of Clitheroe, Saint Michael's, with a baptismal register entry for John Noble of Sabden dated 1798.

History

The Sabden Catholic School opened in summer 1877, and Mass was likely said there as soon as the building could be used. Rev. John Meade was named the first parish priest of Sabden in 1909, working from Whalley until 1911. Rev. Meade's pastorate ended with his death in January 1933, aged 65, and Rev. Thomas Murray succeeded him. Rev. Murray built a building fund reaching £650 by 1937, then approached builder Daniel Durkin to complete the church. The parish has a fine oil painting of Saint Jerome brought by the Jesuits, possibly from France to Stonyhurst in 1790.

Architecture and furnishings

Daniel Durkin of Burnley built the church for £800, using plans drawn by his son Dennis Durkin. The wooden altar and oak altar rails came from Saint John the Baptist's at Padiham.

Parish life

The parish has a CAFOD group. The parish has a flower team. The parish has an S.V.P. (St Vincent de Paul Society) group. The parish has Scouts, Cubs & Beavers groups.

The parish has a St Mary’s Hall Committee. The Ladies Group is ecumenical, open to all Ladies and Gentlemen of any age or denomination.

The St Michael & St John’s Loyola Scout Group is relocating to Clitheroe United Reformed Church and changing its name. The parish has an active group concerned with conservation and climate change challenges, striving to involve all the parish.

Visiting

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served in the Hall after Mass on most Sundays. The Seedlings Group, running for over twenty years, will hold monthly play sessions with TraintimeUK from September 2026.