The History of St Joseph’s Church and School, Leigh

St Joseph’s Church and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School have been part of Leigh for many hundreds of years.

Early Catholic Community

After England separated from the Catholic Church in the 1500s, it became difficult to be Catholic. Some families in Leigh continued to practise their faith in secret. Mass was celebrated in houses such as Bedford Hall and Hall House. One of the priests who served the area was Ambrose Barlow. Priests at that time risked imprisonment, but the Catholic community in Leigh remained strong.

The First Chapel and Church

In 1778, a small chapel was built on Chapel Street. This gave local Catholics a proper place to worship. As the Catholic population grew, a larger church was needed. In 1855, St Joseph's Church opened. The church was designed by Joseph Hansom in the Gothic Revival style. It is built from stone and has a tall tower that was completed in 1878. Because of its importance and design, it is now a Grade II listed building. The poet and priest Gerard Manley Hopkins served in the parish in 1879. Today, the church is an active Roman Catholic church and is part of the parish of St Edmund Arrowsmith Parish.

The Start of the School

In 1900, St Joseph’s School began in a small church room. From those early beginnings, the school grew alongside the parish community. In 1900, St Joseph’s School began in a small room within the church. From these early beginnings, the school grew alongside the parish community. Initially starting as a boys’ school, a girls’ school soon followed. Mixed classes were introduced much later as the school continued to evolve. As pupil numbers increased, the current school building was constructed to accommodate the growing community. In 2009, the old infant building, which once stood where our Key Stage One playground is today, was demolished.

Church and School Today

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and St Joseph’s Church continue to work closely together.

  • Pupils attend Mass in the church.

  • Children prepare for the Sacraments through the parish.

  • The school continues the mission of faith and learning that began many years ago.

Our school is part of a long tradition of Catholic faith in Leigh. The courage of earlier generations, the building of the church, and the opening of the school have all helped create the community we belong to today.