History details
Local information shows the build year was 1899, and the work of Architects Pugin & Pugin. The Pugin family continued the architectural practice of the father Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. Information from the Pugin Society supports both the build year and the architects.
The chemical site in Thornton was just developing in 1890s and labour was brought in from a number of places including Ireland, with the increasing Catholic population there became a need for a church. The laying of the foundation stone of the church to be called "The Church of the Sacred Heart" took place on Sunday, April 17th 1898, the ceremony being conducted by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Whiteside the Bishop of Liverpool. The stone was laid in the main arch spanning the nave. It consisted of red sandstone with a Maltese cross inscribed in the centre.
In his sermon the Bishop said, if England was Catholic today it was due, they knew, in great measure, to the Catholicity of the Fylde, due chiefly to a man named Cardinal Allen who was born only a short distance away.
He made the point that the erection of the church was due chiefly to the generosity of a lady who wished to show her devotion to the Sacred Heart.
The finished church was opened on 12th March 1899 by the Bishops of Liverpool and Salford.
This Picture Postcard dated 1914 shows that little has changed at Sacred Heart
The white and green marble ballustraded communion rail matches the pulpit, this was an addition after WWI in memory of those who died. Previous to this the original pulpit was situated at the right hand side of the chancel.
Picture by Mike Pollard 2004
Originally the walls of the chancel were decorated with pictures of the apostles, these have since been whitewashed, along with all the internal stonework. Altar of spiked canopies, the centre piece had its top removed and stored in order to give a better view of the refurbished west window.
The Presbytery is situated to the left of the church, and early photographs show it was built at the same time as the church.
In 1904 Canon James Bamber became Parish Priest and remained so until his death in 1947. Canon James was the driving force behind the building of St.Theresas Catholic Church, St.Georges Avenue, Cleveleys.
St. Theresa's Church - Cleveleys
Picture by Mike Pollard 2007