Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith

The Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith stands on Liverpool Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Built in the Romanesque style and completed in 1930, it replaced an earlier church from 1822. The architect was John Sydney Brocklesby, who designed a bell tower with a green copper pyramid roof as a local landmark. Inside, two saucer domes and an apse frame the altar, which has marble flooring and red carpets. Stained glass windows by Harry Clarke depict saints above the altar, and eight candles surround the Tabernacle at the back. The church holds a relic of St Edmund Arrowsmith, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. The building is Grade II-listed, and its presbytery and gates share the same protection from the 19th century. Nikolaus Pevsner once called the church “totally outdated” yet “ambitious” and “impressive.” The parish has been served by several priests, including Canon James O’Meara, who led for half a century. Visitors find a quiet place of worship with strong historical ties. The altar area draws attention with its marble and stained glass, while the bell tower marks the approach to Ashton-in-Makerfield. The relic of St Edmund Arrowsmith adds spiritual significance to the site. The church’s interior and its listed surroundings offer a glimpse of local Catholic heritage.