Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith, Roman Catholic church in Ashton-in-Makerfield, England.
Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith is a Roman Catholic building in Ashton-in-Makerfield distinguished by a striking tower topped with a green copper pyramid roof. The exterior shows Romanesque architectural elements inspired by churches of southern France.
The first Catholic chapel on this site was built in 1822, long before the current church took its place. The present building, designed by J. Sydney Brocklesby, was completed in 1930 and marks a significant moment in the local Catholic community's development.
The church displays notable stained glass windows created by artist Harry Clarke from Dublin alongside carefully crafted stone carvings. These artistic elements shape the interior and reflect a time when religious spaces were furnished with considerable care.
The building sits on Liverpool Road and is open to visitors interested in viewing its architectural features and religious objects. Regular worship services take place, so it helps to check opening times before visiting.
Inside the church rests a sacred relic: the hand of Saint Edmund Arrowsmith, kept in a silver casket since his execution in Lancaster in 1628. This relic makes the church a special pilgrimage site for those interested in early English martyrs.
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