Lancashire church recognised for architectural and historic importance

The Catholic church in Ashton-in-Makerfield, home to the shrine of the Lancashire martyr priest, St Edmund Arrowsmith, has had its listing upgraded in recognition of its historic and architectural importance.

The decision, published by Historic England on 29 May, is good news for the Catholic community at the church of St Oswald and St Edmund who will mark the 400th anniversary of St Edmund’s martyrdom in 2028.

St Oswald’s, which opened in 1930, is an architectural gem in French Romanesque style by the celebrated architect John Sydney Brocklesby (1879-1955). Stone built with Norman arches and shallow domes, it is regarded as Brocklesby’s finest work.

The architect designed mouldings, capitals, columns and bases for the interior that has survived intact. Other renowned artists who worked on the church include Harry Clarke of Dublin who made the stained glass and the architect F.X. Velarde, who designed St Edmund’s Shrine in the ambulatory.

The forward altar is eighteenth century and is thought to have come from Garswood Hall, home of the Gerards, a recusant family, to whom St Edmund was related through his mother.

The saint was born at Haydock, near Ashton, trained for the priesthood at the English College in Douai, and returned to minister in the Northwest, which remained a Catholic heartland through the penal years. The Gerard family gave land for the church and donated the Holy Hand of St Edmund for his shrine.

Parish priest Fr John Gorman commissioned the Architectural History Practice to apply for the upgrade on the parish’s behalf to win greater recognition for the church and for St Edmund in the run-up to his anniversary. The revised listing will allow the parish to apply for grants for repairs should they be needed in the future.

The upgrade will encourage campaigners who are fighting to save their church, St Joseph’s, Brindle, as they have also applied for a listing upgrade.

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