St. Peter and St. Michael, Woolston

Introduction

The church was designed by John Smith of Liverpool, with windows designed by Edward Statham.

History

From 1677 to 1831 a series of Catholic priests resided at Woolston Hall, all of whom were English Benedictines. The last Mass was said in the old chapel at Woolston on 19 November 1832, and the seats were removed to the new chapel at Rixton over the following two days. The foundation-stone of a new chapel dedicated to Saint Peter was laid by Edward Statham in February 1834 and opened on 2 July 1835 by Bishop Briggs. The church was opened on 2 July 1835 with Bishop Briggs presiding and Father James Crook offering the first Mass.

Between 1909 and 1912 the church was re-benched and marbled, with new Stations of the Cross and decorative mosaics erected. In 1947 the mosaic of the apostles in the fishing boat was added, along with completion of the sanctuary, a new high altar in Italian marble, and a new lady altar. In 1974 the original soft red brick exterior walls were refaced with a sturdy white dressing due to dampness. In 1975 Saint Michael's in Rixton was suppressed and its title added to that of Saint Peter's, Woolston, creating Saint Peter and Saint Michael's.

At the beginning of 1985, the church was decorated and reordered according to Vatican Council II, with a porch added at the back. The church was built in 1831 according to Pevsner.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is a rectangular building of 4 bays in lancet style with a presbytery behind the chancel at the south end. The interior has an apsidal sanctuary set into the wall common to the presbytery, with a marble altar, reredos and dado. The church contains mosaic stations of the cross with mosaic memorial pictures dated 1875 to 1912 above in spaces between windows.

The church bell weighs 133 lbs and bears the inscription "Ruddell fecit 1834". The original altar, in use until 1947, was flanked by portraits of SS. Peter and Paul by Henry Taylor Bulmer of Preston.

The church has a grained timber choir gallery and screen at the north end of the nave, with a flat ceiling with cove. The windows were designed by Edward Statham and contain 1765 separate pieces of glass. The second window on the West Wall depicts Saint Edward the Confessor placing Westminster Abbey under the patronage of Saint Peter.

The main altar is flanked west by a marble "Lady" altar and east by a vestry door with mosaic memorial pictures above each, the whole wall in marble up to coved ceiling cornice. The side walls have a brown marble dado with white marble to window arch springing lines.

Music and liturgy

Saint Michael's Rixton was opened on Easter Monday 1832 with the Vicar Apostolic presiding and a choir from Liverpool assisting. The priest at Woolston, after saying his own Mass, was rowed across the Mersey to duplicate for the Lymm congregation. The organ originally sat in the gallery and had to be pumped with a wooden handle.

Parish life

The parish offers educational classes for children aged seven and above in preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion. The parish welcomes people of all ages, marital statuses, genders, and sexualities. A video of a parish trip to the North East of England celebrating the Northern Saints and Martyrs is available on YouTube. The parish's connection with the English Martyrs is expressed through Saint Ambrose Barlow.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Children normally make their First Confession in the six weeks before Easter Sunday and their First Holy Communion in May or June. In this diocese, Confirmation is celebrated for young people in Year 8 at secondary school. After registration, young people receive catechesis from the Catholic school they attend, or locally if they do not attend a Catholic high school, and parish meetings are arranged.

The marriage preparation includes taking part in a Marriage Preparation Course undertaken by the parish priest. At least three months before the wedding, couples contact the priest to arrange the wedding liturgy. Parishioners who have a serious illness are welcome to have the Sacrament of the Sick in their homes, in the presence of family and friends if they wish, or in church where possible.