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St Mary, Dunkenhalgh, Roman Catholic
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It was founded before 1756 on Burnley Road. The current church on Devonshire Drive was built in 1959.
The Catholics of this district went to Mass at Dunkenhalgh, the home of the Walmsleys and the Petres, until a chapel was built in 1819. In 1816, when Dunkenhalgh was being rebuilt, it was decided to build a separate chapel for the parish. Until this was built, Mass was said by a priest from Stonyhurst at Sparth House, according to tradition.St. Mary's, Enfield, as it is sometimes called, was built on land given by Mr. R. G. Lomax of Clayton Hall, whose family inherited the ancient Catholic estate of the Grimshaws at Clayton Hall. When the chapel was built, the congregation was about 400 in number, and included some from Ireland, although many of the people came from outlying places such as Accrington, Church, Rishton, Great Harwood, Padiham, etc., so that this, parish of St. Mary's is the mother church of several modern ones.
No logbooks are left for the period from 1819 to 1892. There is a baptismal register from 1815, which must have been begun at Dunkenhalgh. Until the mission was taken over by the diocese in 1873, some fourteen Jesuit Fathers had helped the mission. Father John Leadbetter had the most remarkable tenure of office, staying from 1833 to 1873, when he went to Stonyhurst. Father Thos. Fox was the first secular priest. From 1881 to 1892 Fr. J. Hothersall was Rector. Father J. Crombleholme was here until 1905; he was a great expert on orchids and was recognised as an authority on such. He was relieved from 1905 to 1908 by Fr. J. Taylor and then returned until 1923, when he retired to his family in New Zealand, and still remains. Fr. Bartlett (to 1925) and Fr. Gorman (to 1930) are both buried in the churchyard. Fr. F. Foy, Fr. J. Fairclough, and Fr. H. J. Fielding, after working here for a period have left for other parishes. The present parish priest is Fr. J. V. Reynolds.
The church is a plain building rather like the style of the Non-conformist chapels of those days, but inside it is pleasant and devotional. A huge picture of the Presentation by Caracci hangs over the high altar. The parish also has some fine silver of ancient style that belonged to the sanctuary at Dunkenhalgh-a crucifix, a chalice, and patten. There is also an unknown painting of the crucifixion of considerable beauty.
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 Burnley Road 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.
Original Registers
Baptisms
- 1815-1873 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
- 1815-1873 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
Marriages
- 1831-1854 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
- 1831-1854 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
Burials
- 1833 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
- 1833 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
- 1837-1876 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
- 1837-1876 held by Lancashire Record Office RCCM
Copies of Original Registers
Baptisms
- 1756-1837 Catholic Record Society held by Lancashire Record Office CRS 36 - Printed
- 1756-1837 Catholic Record Society held by Lancashire Record Office CRS 36 - Printed
- 1815-1873 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1815-1873 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1947-1962 held by Lancashire Record Office RCSF 2
- 1947-1962 held by Lancashire Record Office RCSF 2
Marriages
- 1831-1837 Catholic Record Society held by Lancashire Record Office CRS 36 - Printed
- 1831-1837 Catholic Record Society held by Lancashire Record Office CRS 36 - Printed
- 1831-1854 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1831-1854 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1947-1952 held by Lancashire Record Office RCSF 2
- 1947-1952 held by Lancashire Record Office RCSF 2
- 1961-1962 held by Lancashire Record Office RCSF 2
- 1961-1962 held by Lancashire Record Office RCSF 2
Burials
- 1833 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1833 Catholic Record Society held by Lancashire Record Office CRS 36 - Printed
- 1833 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1833 Catholic Record Society held by Lancashire Record Office CRS 36 - Printed
- 1837-1876 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
- 1837-1876 held by Lancashire Record Office MF 9/195 195A - Microfilm
Baptisms
1756-1837
1815-1873
1815-1873
1947-1962
Marriages
1831-1837
1831-1854
1831-1854
1947-1952
1961-1962
1833
1833
1837-1876
1837-1876
- OpenStreetMap
- Google Maps
- StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
- Bing (was Multimap)
- Old Maps Online
- National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
- Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
- English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
- Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
- GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)
- OpenStreetMap
- Google Maps
- StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
- Bing (was Multimap)
- Old Maps Online
- National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
- Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
- English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
- Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
- GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)