St Mary, Woolton

Introduction

St Mary's Church in Woolton, in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, was built in 1859-60 by R. W. Hughes. The church was opened on 28 October 1860. The church was known as Saint Benet's until 1881, when it became known as Saint Mary's.

History

The foundation stone of the present church was laid on 11 September 1859. In 1928 the Benedictines departed after two centuries of service.

In 1931 V. Rev. Dr. Charles Gelderd became the first secular Parish Priest of Saint Mary's. In 1984 Saint Benet's Cemetery was closed and remains, tombstones, monuments and other memorials were transferred to the graveyard at Saint Mary's. In 1987 an ecumenical covenant was signed with the other churches in Woolton: St James', St Peter's and the United Reformed Church.

The Mill Hill Fathers had a very short tenure at Saint Marys lasting just three years. A Redemptorist was appointed as Parish Priest with another Redemptorist as his assistant. The Redemptorists served St Mary's until September 2025, when St Mary's returned to the Archdiocese.

In 2025, the Pastoral Responsibility for the parish was returned to the Archdiocese, with a new Parish Priest and an assistant appointed. The reredos is probably by Edward Welby Pugin. In 1947, V. Rev Canon Edward Murphy was appointed Parish Priest and remained for the next 33 years.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of rock-faced stone with ashlar dressings and a slate roof. The church has an aisle-less nave, transepts, and a chancel flanked by side chapels. The ritual west end has diagonal buttresses and an entrance and 2:3:2-light pointed windows with Geometric tracery. The 5-bay nave has 2-light windows and no clerestory.

The north transept has 2 windows of 2 lights with a rose window above, the south transept has a 4-light window. The chancel has diagonal buttresses flanking a 5-light window. Gabled side chapels have 2-light windows. The south sacristy has windows of one and two cusped lights and a gable with a rose window.

Music and liturgy

The children's liturgy group produced a 'Children's stations of the cross' video for Good Friday. The children's liturgy group produced a story for the golden jubilee of a priest.

First Holy Communion for Year 4 children at St Mary's is conferred as part of the I Belong Sacramental Programme. Confirmation for those of school age at St Mary's takes place in Year 8.

Parish life

The parish has a Signal broadcast group to share important updates, Mass times, and community news. The children's liturgy group has an active online liturgy group and many families are involved in the wider parish community.

The RCIA group aims to prepare adults for reception into the Catholic Church, catering for those new to the Faith and those returning. The parish has a cross parish women's group and a youth justice and peace group, fruits of a successful awakening day during the Redemptorists' tenure.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Adults wishing to be confirmed attend a course held in the run-up to Easter, with the sacrament normally conferred at the Easter Vigil. The parish makes every effort to support and accompany bereaved families, with funeral arrangements made through a funeral director liaising with the Parish Office.