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St Mary of the Angels and St Clare, Levenshulme, Roman Catholic

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St Mary of the Angels and St Clare,
Elbow St,
Levenshulme
Lancashire
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Cemeteries

The church does not have a graveyard.

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Church History

It was founded in 1853 and was originally attached to the Convent of the Poor Clares, Clare Road, Levenshulme. A new church opened in 1883. In 1957 it then moved to a former cinema on Stockport Road, Levenshulme and in 1975 moved into a new building in Elbow Street, Levenshulme.

The mission was not cut off in its beginning: it was a new neighbourhood. The parish at first, in 1853, comprised the following places: Levenshulme, Reddish, Heaton Norris, Withington, Barlow Moor and Fallowfield. It was opened through the interest of Samuel Grimshaw, Esq., a native of Levenshulme, who lived at Errwood Hall, near Buxton. In 1853 he gave the land for the parish-about two acres. Errwood Road, a fine, wide and gracious road in this neighbourhood, is named after the estate of the Grimshaw family.

The first Rector was the Rev. Thomas Unsworth who became a Chaplain in the Crimean War, volunteering with Fr. Patrick Meaney, the latter dying in the Crimea. He was uncle of the Blackburn priests called Meaney. A subsequent Rector was Fr. Henry Fox who built St. Edward's, Rusholme, and left here for that parish.

Eight Sisters -Poor Clares Collettines- came from Belgium in 1863 and settled in Levenshulme in 1871. All were Belgians. Part of the present Convent was built that year.

In 1867 the Right Rev. Mgr. Robert Croskell who had built St. Chad's, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, was appointed Rector. In 1877 he built the present presbytery and in 1882 he built the present church. He died at Levenshulme in 1902 at the great age of 94 years.

In 1898 the present school was built chiefly through the efforts of Fr. Moran.

In 1914 Father Sassen enlarged the church and in the same year built the Infant School. In 1915, through the efforts of Fr. Sassen, St. Robert's, Longsight, was cut off from St. Mary's and made into a separate parish.

Fr. Joseph Lomax was parish priest for many years and in 1940 Monsignor Masterson became parish priest after him. In 1947 he was consecrated Archbishop of Birmingham.

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.

The Stockport Rd church was located The Clare Rd church was located

This site provides historical information about churches, other places of worship and cemeteries. It has no connection with the churches themselves. For current information you should contact them directly.

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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

1870-1941

Copy of Original Register of baptisms 1870-1941 held by Lancashire Archives - MF 1/225

1947-1962

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

Marriages

1898-1941

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1898-1941 held by Lancashire Archives - MF 1/225

1947-1948

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1947-1948 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1951-1953

Copy of Original Register of marriages 1951-1953 held by Lancashire Archives - RCSF 2

1961-1962

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

It is located at SJ8751594077 (Lat/Lon 53.443313, -2.189429). You can see this on maps provided by:

It is located at SJ8746094005 (Lat/Lon 53.442664, -2.190254). You can see this on maps provided by:

It is located at SJ8735593540 (Lat/Lon 53.438482, -2.191816). You can see this on maps provided by:

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