Holy Cross Church, St Helens
Holy Cross and St Helen Church is a Roman Catholic church in St Helens, Merseyside. The church was built in 1860 by the Society of Jesus. It was designed by Joseph John Scoles and is a Grade II listed building.[1]
| Holy Cross Church | |
|---|---|
| Church of the Holy Cross and St Helen | |
 Front - Eastern Aspect | |
| |
| OS grid reference | SJ5148795464 |
| Location | St Helens, Merseyside |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | http://holycrosssthelens.business.site/ |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 23 August 1985[1] |
| Architect(s) | Joseph John Scoles |
| Groundbreaking | 3 May 1860 |
| Completed | 1 May 1862 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Holy Cross |
| Deanery | St Helens - St Monica Pastoral Area |
| Archdiocese | Liverpool |
| Province | Liverpool (aka Northern) |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Most Rev. Malcolm McMahon O.P. |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Kevan O'Brien |
History
The church was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1860. Fr Thomas Seed, the head of the Jesuits in Britain, who also founded Sacred Heart Church in Edinburgh laid the foundation stone of the church on 3 May 1860, what was then Feast of the Finding of the True Cross.
The church was designed by Joseph John Scoles who also designed St Ignatius Church, Preston in Lancashire, Immaculate Conception Church, Farm Street in London and the Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Liverpool. Construction of the church lasted for almost two years and the church was opened on 1 May 1862.[1]
In the church there is a memorial stone dated 1933, showing when the Jesuits handed over the church to the Archdiocese of Liverpool, who have continued to administer it ever since.
Parish
Every week, the church has two Masses for Sunday; a vigil one at 6.45pm on Saturday and the other at 9:30am Sunday. Also, there are Masses at 12:15pm from Monday to Friday.
Entrance to the church is via Corporation Street (southern side) or Parade Street (northern side), where there is also an additional gate for level access. The original front entrance is no longer used.
In July 2020, the church of SS Peter & Paul, Haresfinch was closed and its parishioners merged into the parish of Holy Cross and St Helen under its former Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Kevan O'Brien.
Gallery
North-Eastern aspect of Church of Holy Cross & St. Helen, St. Helens, Merseyside
Southern aspect of Church of Holy Cross & St. Helen, St. Helens, Merseyside
References
- British listed buildings retrieved 16 August 2013
