Priest in Charge

Fr. Anthony Grimshaw

Tel 01995 61238

Email: anthonygrimshaw@btconnect.com

Weekend Mass
Saturday 7:00pm

Sunday 10:30 am

A Brief History

Until the Protestant Reformation all the people of Chipping worshipped at St. Bartholomew’s Church which still stands in the centre of the village.

Those who remained devoted to the Catholic Church and the Mass had to practice their religion secretly.

There was a Mass centre at Leagram Hall where the family remained Catholic. At the beginning of the 19^th century the penal laws against the Catholics started to be eased. Catholics in the area were now able to go openly to the chapel at Leagram. In the 1820s the then squire of Leagram George Weld gave land in the village for the building of a church, a school, a priest’s house and a cemetery. The present beautiful church of St Mary’s was then built by the Catholic community at a cost of £1,130. The church has been renovated and redecorated over the years.

A day school for the Catholics was also built on the site. This remained in use until 1967 when the new school was built. The old school is now a community centre for all the people of Chipping.

Present Day

In 1999 the church was fully redecorated following consultation with the Historic Buildings Society This work included the moving of the side altars, the pulpit and font.
We hope you will take time to visit St Mary's and appreciate the historic connection with the Catholic community in Lancashire.

Organ

The organ in St Mary’s Church was reputedly bought from Stonyhurst College in 1872. Experts from Preston and District Organist Association consider the organ to be early 18^th century and built by “Bishop” of Ipswich, originally hand blown, the organ contains 650 pipes.

Over the years the organ was cleaned and tuned and in 1944 when electric light was installed a plate was discovered confirming that it was built by Bishop of Ipswich.

After a further renovation in 1952, when an electric blower was installed, a further inscription was found saying that Henry Ainscough finished this organ re-building in 1872.

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