St. John’s Church – Chorlton-cum-Hardy ........ another story from Tony Goulding

This building, which is now in use as a parish centre, was the original parish church serving the Roman Catholic population of Chorlton-cum-Hardy. 

The first Mass to take place in the area since the Reformation, discounting those said “illegally” by Ambrose Barlow, the Catholic martyr, and others at Barlow Hall in the 17th and 18th centuries, was celebrated on the Saturday, 12th March, 1892. 

However, this service was held in St. Peter’s Priory which was a mission church not an established parish. 

The first celebrant was Fr. Jerome Joseph Vaughan the brother of Cardinal Herbert Vaughan the founder of St. Bede’s College, Whalley Range, Manchester. 

The first home of the priory was Woodleigh House on Edge Lane before moving to Oakley a larger property on Barlow Moor Road (close to the present-day Priory Avenue).

The Priory only had a short life-span as shortly after Fr. Jerome’s death on the 9th September, 1896 with some trouble over renewing the lease of Oakley it was decided that given the increasing size of the congregations warranted the establishment of permanent parish. 

Consequently, the diocese purchased this building on High Lane which had been Chorlton High School. In recognition that this was now a recognised parish its name was changed to St. Augustine’s with the first Sunday Mass being offered on the 9th October, 1897. The first parish priest was Fr. Frederick Holt.`

 Evidence of its former use is said to be provided by these two alcoves in the wall which were, allegedly, the church’s confessional boxes.

In the years following World War 1, with the continued growth of the congregations a new, larger church was needed. Thanks, largely, to the generous bequests of Mr. & Mrs. John Leeming (1) land on High Lane between Whitelow Road and St. Clements Road was purchased from the estate of Dr. John Rains. (2)  

This magnificent church was built on the plot and was opened with a Mass said on the 11th June, 1927. The following day (Sunday) a High Mass was sung by The Bishop of Salford, The Rt. Rev. Thomas Henshaw. Opportunity was taken at this time to rededicate the parish as Our Lady and St. John’s partly to end the confusion with the other St. Augustine’s, on York Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester (3) but also in recognition of the church’s major benefactor, John Heys Leeming. 

The move to the new church was overseen by Monsignor Joseph F. A. Kelly, parish priest (1916-1930)

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; PARISH CENTRE 2020, THE CONFESSIONAL BOXES 2015, OUR LADY AND ST. JOHN’S CHURCH 2020, from the collection of Tony Goulding, and Bishop_Thomas_Henshaw by Rex Gregorian  CC-A-SA LICENSE, DERWENT HOUSE - 67, HIGH LANE m17923, A. E. Landers 1959, ST JOHN'S PRESBYTERY FROM ST SLEMENTS ROAD, m 18179 A. E. Landers 1959, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

Notes: -

1) Mr. John Heys Leeming was a very wealthy silk cloth manufacturer of Holly Bank, 5, Wellington Road, Alexandra Road South, Withington, Manchester who died on the 26th October, 1915 at Hambleton, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. His estate was assessed at £36,014 - 9s – 7d, which at today’s value amounts to £3,373, 000.

John Heys Leeming was the first-born son of John Fishwick Leeming, an oil merchant and broker, and his first wife Margaret Jane (née Wilson). He was born on the 23rd February, 1855 at Langley House, Victoria Park, Manchester and was baptised at St. Wilfrid’s Roman Catholic Church in Hulme, Manchester John Heys married Emily Mary Farrington in Manchester during the September quarter of 1889. Their union produced no children. Emily Mary died at 31, Richmond Avenue, Cleveleys, Nr. Blackpool, Lancashire on the 23rd November, 1944. One of those granted probate of her Will was Rev. Edward McGuinness M. C. who was, at that time, the Parish Priest of St. John’s, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

2)  The property also included two substantial houses at either end of the stretch of land. Derwent House at the Whitelow Road end, and at the other end this house on St. Clement’s Road which was incorporated into the new church building as its presbytery.

3) St. Augustine's Church on York Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock was built in 1906 to replace the original church (the second oldest Catholic Church in Manchester, after “The Hidden Gem”- St. Mary’s on Mulberry Street) on Granby Row. The old church buildings being required by Manchester Corporation to provide for the new Technical Schools.

Finally, as usual, I’ve used a plethora of sources to produce this story but on this occasion, I must acknowledge two in particular. Andrew Simpson’s and Peter Topping's own “Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Churches, Chapels, Temples, a Synagogue and a Mosque” proved invaluable. Also, a website, “oldchorlton.me.uk”, created by the late Mr. Anthony Frederick Walker provided much additional background on the development of the new church prior to 1927.