St Stephen, First Martyr, Orford

Introduction

The first church was a temporary construction with corrugated asbestos sheeting and plaster board, costing about £4,000 and accommodating 250.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a 70ft tower faced with green and stone coloured concrete panels and a 3cwt bell, a gift from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board that had guided ships into Liverpool harbour. The windows were pale blue and yellow, the carpet red, and black and white marble was used for the altar. Two marble lecterns, one on the 'Epistle' side and one on the 'Gospel' side, replaced the original wooden ones; the marble was imported from Italy to match the altar. The church has a long and broad nave providing an uninterrupted view of the Sanctuary, with the Lady Chapel and Baptistry on the Epistle side and confessionals and Sacristy on the opposite, and seating for 130 in the choir balcony. A Lady Chapel of exquisite beauty is seen through a white metalwork screen and is dominated by a Cararra marble statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Music and liturgy

The parish priest implemented Vatican II changes, re-siting the altar so the priest faced the congregation, introducing lay readers, and fully replacing the Latin Mass with the vernacular. The first Benediction Service was held in the open air on May-Sunday at Connor's farm, with an improvised altar on a farm cart. May processions in honour of Our Lady and June processions for Corpus Christi took place along Northway. The parish held Forty Hours Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

A photo shows the interior at the time of Quarant'Ore. A Young Christian Workers group was initiated and organised in the parish.

Parish life

The parish had a large Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a mixture of young and old, which was the social life for some young mothers and annually put on a pantomime to help Church funds. The men of the parish ran weekly Domino Drives, a Football Pool's Lottery, and later Bingo sessions in the school, with huge numbers turning up. An impromptu choir formed, with some members from the Catholic Choral Society, singing at Mass; Mr. Phillips conducted when work shifts permitted and Mr. John Aspinwall played the organ.

The ladies of the parish, at first joining with Saint Benedict's ladies, performed in concerts and pantomimes in the Bell Hall, and later used Saint Stephen's School as a meeting place. On 20th Sept 1963 the Planned Giving Campaign started, with parishioners promising to give a weekly amount. On Monday 6th May 1957, 280 children were admitted to the school, and on 13th May an additional 53 pupils. On 22nd September 1957 the school was officially opened, with children dressed in white and waving Papal flags lining the route.

1959 saw the completion of English Martyrs shared Secondary Modern Boys School, built for 11+ children transferring from Saint Stephen's and neighbouring Catholic Primary Schools. In 1967 the Girls' Department of The English Martyrs shared Secondary School opened. Many wedding photographs were taken in front of the grotto. In 1970 Michael Gibbons, a parishioner of Saint Stephen's, was ordained into the Priesthood in the Church on 22nd August.

The church has a private car park accessible from Howson Road and on-street parking around the church. Two bus routes serve the church, among them service 20/21, a Warrington–Longford/Orford circular.

A 50 hour fast was practised as a Lenten penance and usually ended on Holy Saturday. A parish directory was published at Christmas 1989 after many parish groups and sodalities had been formed. A parish directory is headed as the Millennium Year 2000 parish directory.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Children aged 9 (Year 4) receive preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Communion in the parish. Baptisms are arranged by prior appointment with the Parish Priest. Apart from First Confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be celebrated at any time upon request. The Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated with the Housebound and Sick in church four times a year.

Anyone infirm in mind, body or spirit of any age who wishes to receive the sacrament can contact the priest, who will come and pray with them and their family and anoint them. Margaret Mulholland, a parishioner, became a nun in the Order of the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1961. Mutual improvement, religion and brotherly love, pursued through prayer, regular sacraments, education and recreation, were the purpose of the Saint Stephen’s C.Y.M.S. club. The Ladies Social Guild began as Young Wives and celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1999.