St Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is located on the corner of Kemp Street and Lord Street (adjacent to Peacocks) FY7 6JX. The What3Words reference is expert.renamed.transmits.

St Mary’s Church

See it pictured as it is today, along with some historic photos of the church.

History of St Mary’s Church

Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood was approached by the Catholic community in respect of land upon which to build a chapel. He told them he “would deal with them being Catholics as he would with other Religious Communities.” He said he would give them the land for a Chapel. Adding “the more money that was expended upon the building in order to render it ornamental the better should be the site.”

St. Mary’s Church was built by T. A. Drummond between 1866 and 1867 on the corner of Lord St. and Kemp St. The design is by Edwin Welby Pugin and the cost was £4000. It’s constructed of rock faced stone with ashlar dressings and has pitched roofs of slate.

The interior has notable stained-glass windows and a marble pulpit. There’s an unusual Polygonal apse, two side altars and statues and the high altar. At the rear of which is the beautiful and elaborately sculpted Reredos, also designed by E. W. Pugin. It was listed Grade II in 1978.

The adjacent presbytery designed by Innocent and Brown of Sheffield was built in 1878 and is also Grade II listed.

Edwin Welby Pugin (1834-1875), the accomplished English architect designed over one hundred Catholic churches. Edwin’s father was the famous architect Augustus Welby Pugin. He was one of the interior designers of the Palace of Westminster (Parliament) and the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben.

Ironically Augustus was a huge opponent of the neo-classical style of Decimus Burton. He publicly criticised him, including his designs for Fleetwood.

Reasons for plaque award

The church was designed by Edwin Welby Pugin who also designed the beautiful, sculpted Reredos (ornate screen). The interior has notable stained-glass windows, a marble pulpit and an unusual polygonal apse.

Use the map and walk the route around Fleetwood – find all the other sites and buildings in the trail.

Colouring In Fleetwood

Why don’t you download, print out and complete this FREE colouring in sheet of St Mary’s Church. Click on the image to download it. Find all of the colouring in sheets for the Fleetwood Blue Plaque trail here.

Links to other websites

• More about St Mary’s Church and restoration of the presbytery • Visit Fleetwood
• History • stmarys-fleetwood.org.uk
• Roman Catholic Church of St Mary, Fleetwood, Lancashire • britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
• St Mary’s Church, Fleetwood • Wikipedia