Holy Saviour RC Parish, Nelson:
A Brief History
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Recent Years
A parish community which had successfully achieved the two major goals of completing their parish church and providing new, purpose built schools for both primary and secondary catholic students must have experienced (quite rightly) a great sense of fulfilment. The emphasis was no longer on major building works but rather the maintenance and development of these assets.Ironically, as the physical size of the parish church had been increased, the actual numbers of adult Sunday Mass attendance had gradually over the past decade dropped by a third to an average of 600 in the early 70's.
Improvements in the church at this time included (yet another) new altar and a new public address system as well as the reordering of the sanctuary. Conversion of the church heating system to gas and repairs to part of the roof because of dry rot were necessary, if less exciting projects in the 80's. It was during this decade that the successful partnership of organist and new choirmaster (Herman Eccles and John Stinchon) began in 1984.
Herman was to have served the parish as organist for over fifty years before his death in January 1997 and John was later presented with the Bene Merenti at the Easter vigil mass in 2003.
Most parishes would have found great difficulty in finding a replacement organist, but as luck would have it or should we say rather by the grace of God, Ken Lloyd, an accomplished organist, appeared on the scene and thus the tradition of quality church music was continued, enhanced and appreciated until Ken's sudden and untimely death in May 2004.
One of the high points of the 80's - always an occasion on which any catholic community feels both blessed and proud was the ordination of Terence Schofield to the priesthood by Bishop Kelly at Holy Saviour's in January 1985.
As the parish community began to look once again to the future and to anticipate celebrating a catholic presence in the Bradley Hall Road area of Nelson for one hundred years, Father Michael Haworth, a 'local lad' formerly an assistant priest at St. Mary's Burnley, was welcomed as the new parish priest (January 1993).
Among his many initial tasks was the management of the refurbishment and redecoration of the church and the presbytery which was completed in January 1995.
At the same time, the issue of the future of the old primary school, (the Annexe), which was being used as a parish centre, had to be resolved as it was in serious need of repair and modernisation. Whilst the whole parish community was behind the project, organising and supporting fund raising events to provide the funds necessary for its completion, it has to be recorded that the renovation of the parish centre was entirely a 'Do-it-yourself' project, drawing on the skills of a dedicated team of parishioners under the leadership of Vincent Deehan. Vincent's vision, determination and unfailing energy and enthusiasm over several years ensured the continued use of the centre even during the renovation process.
The stages of the renovation, the trials and tribulations encountered along the way and the blood, sweat and tears shed in the process were not forgotten but celebrated upon its completion in 1998.
At the new school, building continued until finally in January 1973 it was complete. Three junior classrooms had been added to the three infant rooms. There were now one hundred infants and eighty eight junior pupils on roll. Staffing included eight full time and two part time teachers, a secretary, caretaker, cleaners, Nursery and Ancillary assistants. What a joy it must have been not only for those working directly at the school but also for parishioners and indeed the whole catholic community that their hopes and dreams of a new school for their children had eventually been realised. The school welcomed many visitors during this time but it was a particularly special day in May 1973 when Bishop Holland came to see the school and spend time with the pupils and the staff.
Throughout the seventies and eighties quite apart from the day to day successes in the classrooms the school made its mark in the creative and sporting fields around the district. Pupils regularly participated in country dance, choir and drama festivals. The choir won a cup at the Nelson Festival (1976) and went on to celebrate a particularly successful year in 1978 retaining the Burnley Festival trophy for the second time and winning first prizes at both the Nelson and the Colne Festivals. The pupils also excelled in sports - placed second in the inter schools athletics (1974), third in the inter schools swimming gala (1975), but going on to win the boys squadron race (1976). The rounders team won the Clitheroe cup (1975) and (1981) and the inter schools championship (1977). The footballers won the Dorian cup 7 a-side trophy in (1976), whilst the netball team won the trophy for middle sized schools (1983).
The pupils weren't the only ones who were busy! The Parent Teacher Association which had been formed shortly after moving to the new site was actively organising social and fund raising events for both children and adults including ''Fancy Dress" evenings, dances and discos as well as fetes and garden parties.
© Holy Saviour R.C. Parish. Nelson, Lancashire.
Holy Saviour RC Church - Nelson