Our Churches
History of St. John the Baptist, St Augustine's and St Mary Magdalene.
History of the Church of St. John the Baptist, Padiham.
The Church of St John the Baptist was founded in 1863.
- 1600s High Whitaker, the home of Thomas Whitaker, a catholic priest, is said to have been used as a Catholic chapel.
- 1646 Thomas Whitaker was executed.
- 1863 Mission from Burnley.
- 1863 Foundation stone of chapel.
- 1864 Chapel opened.
- 1867 Became a parish in its own right.
- 1880 Corner stone of church near to first church which is still there.
- 1881 Church opened see 'St.John's Church, Padiham, 1881-1981' by Tom Gill (1981).
For several years after its foundation, this mission was served from Burnley. It began as a school chapel, and Fr. Standing was here for a time. Fr. McDermott Roe built the presbytery. From 1873 to 1892 the mission had the good fortune to be ruled by Dean Henry Jones, who came from Colne. A new church was opened in 1881.After the death of Dean Jones (see notes below), a man of apostolic zeal, the mission was in the care of Fr. E. Goetgeluck until 1901. Fr. Francis Hart then served here until his death in 1915. Fr. Hart had previously been Vice-Rector of St. Bede's College and had helped to build the College chapel. In more recent years the parish has been under the care of Fr. A. Vantomme, Fr. Hubert Baron, and Fr. William Ramsdale.
NOTES ON PADIHAM AND DEAN JONES
(By Mr. Maurice O'Shaughnessy, aged 72)The first priest to be permanently appointed as resident missionary Rector was Father McDermott Roe. From all accounts he was a gentle soul and suffered much from the hostile bigotry obtaining in those days. He took up residence in a house in the street we always knew as " Campbell's Row", Padiham Green.
So narrow-minded was the bigotry and so hostile was it, that he had to keep his blinds drawn, for they even invaded his front garden, pressing their faces against his window-frames to observe what "devilish Popish tricks" he might be up to. Also he was unable to leave his house with safety on foot, as stones were hurled at him, and he had to go by cab to his destination. Naturally he had a nervous breakdown and was removed to more congenial surroundings. He was succeeded by Fr. Johnson, who used other methods, whereby the stupidity ceased.
Fr. Johnson was by all accounts an individual who would stand no nonsense and hustled his own backsliders in a truly firm manner. The Branch Railway line running through Padiham was at this time in course of erection and, as was usual, Irish labour was brought in. To the everlasting disgrace of those responsible, miserable hutments were run up, with earthen floors, and but an aperture rather than windows here and there, plus a smoky stove. It was in the days of cheap drink, and these poor souls after twelve hours or more of strenuous labour resorted to the drink "palaces". Drunken scenes were a result, and someone who mentioned this to Fr. Johnson received the following reply: "They earn their money like horses and spend it like asses."
Father Henry Jones succeeded Fr. Johnson. The church in those days was the little building adjoining the cemetery wall. The school was over a smithyshop by the Goyt, to which access was had by a wooden staircase. A new school-chapel was built and then a new school in 1889. A priest who was a qualified architect drew up the plans. Then Fr. Jones acted as clerk of the works and, aided by a small group of decent, hard-working parishioners, built the school for between £600 and £700.
Fr. Jones died at the age of 69 on November 21, 1891, from a seizure and was buried at Rose Grove. I was baptised by him. He was a very dear and holy priest, and was held in great esteem by the people of the town, both Catholic and non-Catholic, so much so that at his funeral as the cortege passed, the shopkeepers put up their shutters and stood respectfully on the sidewalk.
At one time he must have been serving in South Wales, as I was told he built a church in the Clifton district. He also helped to start the mission in Colne. His housekeeper, "Helen", once told my mother that there were times at Colne when they scarcely had a cup of tea in the house.
There are many delicate points I have experienced, as I frequently served his Mass for some years. To hear his preparation for Mass whilst already vested was touching indeed, and again during the Mass his prayers (audible to the acolyte) were such as to cause us lads to marvel. All of us looked upon him as a holy man in the fullest sense of the word.
There were some who thought he was too old. In those days £100 was a large sum to gather, yet when he died there was only a debt of £600 left on the parish.
To go to Confession to Fr. Jones was an ordeal. He would be praying out loud and calling out "Begone! Begone! Begone!" Then after a respite he would turn again to the penitent. It was generally believed he was tormented by evil spirits, often and often.
Whilst preparing for Mass, he would be praying at the vestment chest before a crucifix saying "That I may be worthy" or similar ejaculations over and over again. Then suddenly he would seize his biretta and rush along into church. Again, during the Mass, and from the Offertory on towards the Elevation he would be asking God that he might be worthy.
On one occasion as we entered the church, which was empty, we were greeted by a peal of horrible laughter, which rang through the church. On entering the sanctuary, he turned to me and said "Did you hear anything, Maurice? " (as he always addressed me). I replied "Yes". He asked "What was it?" I told him. "Is there anyone in the church?" he asked. I replied "No". He then said "Go down the church and see". I did so, looking under the seats and under the old choir gallery, the porch, which was empty and the doors locked and bolted, and also up the choir gallery. When I returned and told him, he immediately commenced the Mass and never referred to it again. Needless to say my heart was jumpy whilst I searched, as I was only about 11 or 12 years of age.
Another evening we were sitting in the kitchen when there was a bump at the door. Mother immediately opened the door leading to the hall and met Fr. Jones, who appeared to be labouring from some extraordinary exertion and perspiring. He entered the kitchen and sat down, and did not appear to be in any hurry to leave. He eventually rose and proceeded towards the door, Mother offering to send one of the boys with him. As he stepped into the open, he looked both ways, then without another word hurried away and was soon out of sight. Mother, often referring to it, said she was sure some evil spirit had been buffeting him.
What I have set down here is correct regarding the time I knew Fr. Jones in every detail, and although it may seem far-fetched, it is true.
Fr. Henry Jones was a Lancashire man in spite of his Welsh name, having been born at Warrington of a family that belonged for many years to Pendleton. He was a student and professor at Lisbon. While at Lisbon he had a serious illness and his life was despaired of, but he recovered.
Mrs. Mary Mulligan of Colne writes the following about Fr. Jones:
1871. Fr. Jones came to Colne. He had often heard of the state of Colne and was often troubled what to do to help it, and had said to many and at last to the Bishop "What about Colne?" The Bishop told him that he might go there if he would. He had laboured hard for sixteen years to build up the mission at Aspull, but this he cheerfully left to work up Colne. He took up missionary services in the upper room in the Angel Inn yard. There was still a hostile and scoffing spirit in some districts people passed through on the way to chapel. The zeal of Fr. Jones was greater than his strength for the task and he was sent to Padiham. I well remember him coming to our house. He was so kind and good, and had a lovely collie dog, white and tan, that we all loved, called Prince. I am sure he had a very poor time at Colne but he did very good work. Before he came my father and a friend used to gather all the boys and girls they could and teach them Catechism on a Sunday afternoon. May God be good to all the splendid priests we had and may their souls mount high in Heaven!
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.
History of the Church of St. Augustine, Lowerhouse, Burnley.
The parish of St. Augustine's was made out of St. John's, Padiham, in October 1896. Fr. Peter Notterdam was the first parish priest. He lived at 10 Kidrow Lane, after having lived for a time with Fr. Goetgeluck at Padiham. From September 1897, Holy Mass was said in "The Cottage House", like the Stable at Bethlehem - bare boards the only ornament. The parish was called St. Vincent's.
In December 1897 ground was bought and the present school chapel was opened in May 1898 by Bishop Bilsborrow. It was dedicated to St. Augustine. St. John's, Padiham, was always a good friend to this little parish, along with Colonel Starkie.
Lady O'Hagan gave the Altar a chalice and a ciborium. The ciborium is still at St. Augustine's. She also gave the present statue of Our Lady. The population of the parish was 109. Fr. Peter Notterdam was parish priest for eight years and was appointed to Haslingden on September 29, 1904. Fr. Michael Cahill came in 1904. He found the place too poor and the parish was closed and made a Chapel-of-Ease to St. Mary Magdalene's, Gannow. Fr. Joyner took charge in 1904 until in 1908 the parish was closed again. The chalice was sent to St. Mary's, Burnley. The buildings were put up for sale on two occasions. In 1908 Fr. Herman Bruning became parish priest. He had been a missionary in one of the Leper Islands. He organised a Great Bazaar and made over £1,000. He remained until 1914 - when the war broke out he was taken from here, for he was a German. He left for America, where he was made a Monsignor by His Holiness the Pope, at the request of his American Bishop. He died in America. His brother was a German Chancellor.
In 1915 Fr. John Hardman was made parish priest. He built the present presbytery in 1922. In 1932 he celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his Priesthood. In 1938 he retired and died in 1939 (Saturday, January 14) aged 80. Fr. Patrick Veale buried bis body at Radcliffe.
Fr. Patrick Veale was appointed parish priest on August 12, 1938. Whilst he was parish priest he paid off all the debt and put all the property in good repair, and all the vestments and furnishings of the church were renewed. A new Chalice was presented by the crew of No. 1 Gun, Howitzer Brigade, comrades of Joseph Stanley, killed in action, March 23, 1918, in France.
Fr. John Sheahan was parish priest in 1946, followed by Fr. Joseph Houston in 1948.
A new baptismal font was given to the parish by Father P. Veale in October 1947
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.
History of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Burnley.
When the school was built here in 1883 the priest came for Sunday Mass from St. Mary's. The mission when made separate in 1887 had cost over £20,000, over half of which had been provided by Canon Rimmer and the rest by the people of St. Mary's and the Towneleys. Fr. Octave Raymond, a Belgian, served here from 1887 to his retirement in 1901. He added new infant schools. From then until 1914 the mission was in the charge of Fr. Thomas Harrison. The church was built in 1904, "stately, capacious, and useful", a new presbytery, a club for the men, and additions to the schools. Much of the debt was cleared away by Bazaars, helped to a great extent by priests and people of neighbouring parishes. Other priests who have assisted the growth of the mission in more recent years are Fr. John Hennessey, Fr. Charles Dunleavy, Fr. Arthur O'Connor, Canon Michael Fitzgerald and Father A. A. Baron.
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.