Parish History - Parish Beginnings

Mainly because of its isolated position, the establishment of a Catholic Church in Saddleworth is a relatively recent event, with most of the pioneering work being done since the Second World War.

Founding of the Parish
An ancient parish was founded – possibly by St Augustine - in the sixth century. The chancel of the first church was completed in 1272, on the same site as the present St Chad’s Anglican church. After the Reformation in the 1530s, there followed difficult centuries for Catholics. Priest were very unlikely in such a remote area and little is known of any Catholic community during these years.

Following Catholic Emancipation in 1820, the first centre in the area to be established was at St Patrick’s in Huddersfield. In 1920 Saddleworth became part of the parish of Slaithwaite, which had just split from St Patrick’s. However, since this was ten or twelve miles away across the moors, and before the ubiquity of the motor car or public transport, the few Catholics in the area found it easier to reach Mossley for Mass. Parishioners still with us remember walking – and pushing a pram – the five miles there and back.

The first Mass in Uppermill ...
As numbers grew, the priests in Mossley agreed to set up a Mass centre in Uppermill, in the rooms above the old Co-op. The first Mass was said there in 1943, attended by 100 people. It is believed that this was the first public Mass to be said in Saddleworth since the Reformation, 400 years earlier.

In 1952 a deputation went to visit the Bishop in Leeds to ask for their own parish and priest (having first tried the Bishop of Salford). Bishop Heenan of Leeds agreed and entrusted the care of the Saddleworth Catholics to the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

Ladcastle Hall, a large house in Dobcross was acquired as the Catholic centre. The original services took place in the front room, until the stable was converted into a chapel.

In 1967, the current church was acquired from the Ebenezer Congregation, giving the parish a permanent and central building.