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Sacred Heart (originally St Oswald), Accrington, Roman Catholic

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Sacred Heart originally StOswald,
Blackburn Road,
Accrington
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THE SACRED HEART, ACCRINGTON

The Jesuit Fathers, who had long been in charge of the church at Clayton-le-Moors, eventually handed over this mission to the Bishop and started to build up another some miles distant at Accrington. A piece of land was given for the purpose by Henry Petre of Dunkennalgh, thus continuing the long tradition of generosity to the church of the Dunkenhalgh family.

This first parish in the Accrington district was in Hyndburn road in the parish of Church, and from 1852 to 1869 remained here under the name of St. Oswald's. Then Fr. Maguire obtained a piece of land in a more central position, and here was built a new church under the invocation of the Sacred Heart. The new church was a building of fine proportions in the style of thirteenth-century Gothic.

It is recorded that the first public procession organised by the Catholic congregation of Accrington was in 1856 after the declaration of peace at the end of the Crimean war. The procession wound its way into Oswaldtwistle and ended up with coffee and buns for the children, since which date no parish celebration is complete without the coffee and buns.

At the joyful celebration of the church opening on August 5, 1869, Dr. Turner, the Bishop of Salford, was present and the well-known preacher and writer, Fr. Gallwey, S.J., addressed the assembly.

Since that date the parish has been served by a long series of devoted priests, who have watched over the growth of the parish and have provided improved schools, and have built up a well organised social life in the parish. The congregation of the Sacred Heart is rightly proud of the number of vocations it has fostered. During the 1914 war the parish had 942 names on its roll of honour.

Since 1917 the parish has been under the capable direction of Fr. McEvoy, whose work for education is well known. In 1931 a chapel-of-ease was founded at Huncoat.

Taken from "Salford Diocese and its Catholic past", a survey by Charles A. Bolton, a Priest of the above Diocese. Published 1950 on the First Centenary for the Diocese of Salford.

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Cemeteries

The church did not have a graveyard.
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Church History

It was founded in 1869 and closed in 2003.

Charles Henry Collyns . . . . . He had been promoted to priesthood in the Ember-week of September, 1851. The year following witnessed his appointment as the first missioner of St. Oswald's, Accrington, which he served nearly a twelvemonth, when, in September, 1853, his services were transferred to Liverpool.

From - Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion

 
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Church Records

Whilst every effort has been made to record exact details of record office and library holdings you are recommended to check with them before visiting to ensure that they do hold the records and years you wish to examine. Similarly check with transcript publishers to ensure they cover the records and years you require before making a purchase.

Copies of Original Registers

Baptisms
Marriages

Baptisms

1897-1941

Copy of Original Register of baptisms 1897-1941 held by Lancashire Archives - MF 1/152

1947-1962

Copy of Original Register of baptisms 1947-1962 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1947-1962

Copy of Original Register of baptisms 1947-1962 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1954-1962

Copy of Original Register of baptisms 1954-1962 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

Marriages

1902-1941

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1902-1941 held by Lancashire Archives - MF 1/152

1947-1954

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1947-1954 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1947-1954

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1947-1954 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1961-1962

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1961-1962 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1961-1962

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1961-1962 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1961-1963

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1961-1963 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2
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Maps

It was located at SD7502928528 (Lat/Lon 53.752514, -2.380175). You can see this on maps provided by:

It was located at SD7507728925 (Lat/Lon 53.756084, -2.379479). You can see this on maps provided by:

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