st josephs guide

St Joseph's Church

A Guide For The Enquiring Visitor

Norman Gardner (web publishing by David Haynes)

Pevsner passed St Joseph’s by with a cursory reference to its square tower and never ventured inside, he missed a gem. The school adjoining was opened as a Chapel in 1896, and the Parish Church was completed and consecrated on 8 July 1901.

The principal donor for the buildings was Miss Margaret Coulston, who’s Memorial stone stands outside the West Door of the nave.

The Church was designed by Peter Paul Pugin (1851-1904), the last of his churches to be built in the present Lancaster Diocese and it is one of the first Pugin churches to stop using late Decorated style tracery, all the detail is Perpendicular. It is constructed using Yorkshire stone with Pierpoint facing, 112 feet long and 54 ft wide, it can accommodate 500 people. It consists of a chancel, two side chapels dedicated to Our Lady and the Sacred Heart , all with East windows by Hardman of Birmingham, a central nave and a Sacristy and Confessionals leading off the South aisle. At the east end of this aisle is an octagonal Baptistry, matching the 65 feet high square tower with staircase at the east end of the North aisle, leading to a bell chamber and organ loft.

The church, is dimly lit because the large west window, one of the largest P P Pugin built, is obstructed by an ancient organ .

We are struck by the beauty of the stained glass and woodwork on view . Hardmans the stained glass makers and Gillows the woodworkers were the most prestigious firms in their field. Many of St Joseph’s earliest parishioners worked for Gillows. We are looking at a true labour of love which has outlived the skilled craftsmen who made this treasure trove of craftsmanship in glass and wood.

Entering by the east end of the North aisle, on a pillar to our right stands a memorial to the first pastor of the parish, Father O’Bryen (died 1902). A matching Memorial plaque is erected (1928) on the west wall of the North aisle in memory of parishioners who were killed in action during the first world war (1914-1918). Others who died are listed in the Memorial Book at St Peter’s Cathedral (Coulston chapel) along with other known Lancaster Catholics who died in hostilities between 1914 and 2000.

Hanging on the north wall nearby is a modern (1994) English oak framed brass plaque, with an engraved bird signifying the dove of peace. This is overlaid by a smaller plaque listing parishioners who died in wars and conflicts between 1939 and 1996. It was engraved without charge by Nuclear Electric Heysham 2 Power station, when the last named, Mark Maxwell, was killed in Bosnia (1996); it has been left unpolished at relatives request. Below the memorials in this quiet corner, stands a statue dedicated to the Child of Prague, evidence of the presence in our parish, of refugees from Eastern Europe (erected c. 1944). A brass plaque affixed to the front pew of the North aisle commemorates Fr. Murphy (died 1924). The pews were erected by public subscription (1924) and replaced earlier cane-bottomed chairs.

The Stations of the Cross line North and South aisles. The series commences at the east end of the South aisle and tells the story of Christ’s passion and crucifixion. Their gold background overlays an earlier skyscape which was graduated from sky blue to black as the drama unfolds. They are, in the opinion of an expert, of considerable artistic merit. It is thought they were imported from Italy in the early twentieth century.

The Lady Chapel with its East Window by Hardmans showing The Nativity, contains the original chapel altar the crucifix having been replaced by a formerly free standing statue of Our Lady, matching the figure of St Joseph nearby.

The pulpit is the most splendid piece of wood craftsmanship in the interior. Waring and Gillow were so proud of it, that they had its photograph hung in their London Board room. On the north end of the front pew of the south central aisle is a commemorative plaque to Fr. Tony (A.J. Quinn, died 21 March 1999). He was much loved and respected.

The Chancel is lit by a five light East Window by Hardmans, showing Oul Blessed Lady and St Joseph offering the prayers of all the Faithful - making intercession before the Throne. To the left of this window is a wall-painting representing Abraham about to sacrifice his only son Isaac and to the right Melchisidech the High Priest offers bread and wine for the people. The side windows of the Chancel show Saints Margaret and Elizabeth. Margaret Coulston’s mother was called Margaret and one of her four sisters and an aunt were called Elizabeth. Four panels showing the betrothal of Joseph and Mary: the finding of Jesus in the temple; the Holy Family at Nazareth; and the death of our Patron Saint, adorn the particularly elaborate canopied Reredos. Below the Altar table, three mosaics show, the pelican, symbol of Christ as it feeds its young on its own blood; The Host and Chalice symbol of the Blessed Eucharist; and lastly the Sacrificial Lamb, symbol of Christ, Victim in the Mass. The Chancel rails are reputed to be by Gillow workers and the oak chancel side screens also probably by them, were added by Father O’Bryen in nineteen hundred and two.

Devotons to the Sacred Heart popularised by Cardinal Vaughan (died 1903) were at the heart of the Victorian Church’s Mission to educate the poor. Our Sacred Heart Chapel in keeping with the original intention of our Mission, is lit by a Rose Window , a speciality of Peter Paul Pugin, showing a Figure of the Sacred Heart with adoring angels.

Next to the Sacristy door we see a picture of Saint Gerrard with a fine castellated frame. Its provenance is unknown but it may have been given by Margaret Coulston to commemorate the death of her brother, the Rev. John Coulston (died 1889). The statue of the Sacred Heart, (1917) is standing on a pedestal which was probably occupied by Our Lady in the 1896 Chapel. The statue of St Teresa of Lisieux was donated (1931) by the Pettit family. Their son William is listed on the first world war Memorial. At the west end of the South aisle we see facing us a shrine in the eastern orthodox style, dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, it was donated by the Apostleship of Prayer (1931). Pause to see the font, and its elegant wrought iron gates.

The ancient organ, visible from the central aisle, is in urgent need of refurbishing. Previously housed in a redundant chapel at Kirkby Stephen, it was badly sited and installed here in 1947. It is a small two manual and pedal tracker-action pipe organ. There is evidence that it contains several parts from older instruments, some thought to be over 100 years old. It is unlikely that the pipe work is original, and the wooden case shows signs of having been adapted. Despite its poor state of repair, it is capable of producing pleasant sounds, aided greatly by the good natural acoustic of the church building. Instruments of this type in working order are now very rare and worthy of conservation. The smaller instrument behind a curtain, was temporarily installed pending substantial renovation by Dr. Stephen Dickinson. Parish finances do not permit this project to go ahead presently (2000).

Outdoors at the north gate near the tower stands a Grotto to Our Lady of Lourds erected (c.1948), by the Manley family who’s son is listed on the second world war Memorial. First floodlit in 1958, it was completely refurbished (1980) by the Holmes family, in memory of their son Kenneth who died in an accident.

We hope you have enjoyed your visit to our Church. The presbytery (1898), former home of Miss Margaret Coulston, contains much of it’s original furniture including Margaret Coulston’s library. The tiled floors in the entry lobby are worthy of inspection. The house is now in use as the parish priests residence and parish centre, it also houses a small archive which may be of interest to serious scholars, and a collection of artifacts donated by generous parishioners over the life of the parish.

May You Go in Peace

Sources

Tootel V. Rev. Canon F, St Joseph’s Golden Jubilee Souvenir, (Lancaster 1951). St. Joseph’s History Group, Our People Our Parish 1896-1996, (Lancaster 1997). Gardner N., St Joseph’s a Chronology, (Mss Lodged in Lancaster Central Library) also ‘ The Coulstons ...’, North West Catholic History, XXV (Wigan 1998). Universty of Lancaster, Gillow Archives , 4/361 (71). Sanders J, ‘Pugin & Pugin and the Diocese of Glasgow’, Caledonia Gothica, Pugin and the Gothic Revival in Scotland, Architectural Heritage VIII (Edinburgh,1997), pp. 89-106. Birmingham Central Library, Hardman Archives, MS 175/36/71.

Printed & Published St Joseph’s Church Lancaster LA1 2HU

1997, 2000, 2001 Copyright Reserved

Go back to St Joseph's Home Page