About the Church
The Church
St Joseph’s Church, Penketh celebrated its centenary on 23rd September 2023, marking 100 years of Catholic life and service in the community.
The parish is currently served by Fr Raymond Anyanwu CSSp, supported by Fr James Fasakin CSSp, as part of a Spiritan community based at St Joseph’s.
Our Early History (1924–1939)
Mass was first celebrated in a private home at 25 Station Road, Sankey, while the church was being built. St Joseph’s came into use in 1924 and officially became a parish in 1926 (Parish No. 145 in the Archdiocese of Liverpool), with Fr James Lonergan as its first parish priest.
The first recorded baptism was that of Dorothy Ainsworth on 31 January 1927, and the first marriage was celebrated in 1929 by Fr Joseph Roche.
Under Fr Charles Joseph McCabe, the parish became firmly established, with the Sisters of Charity of St Paul founding a school in 1934, and the presbytery being built around 1938.
War Years and Community Growth (1939–1953)
During the Second World War, St Joseph’s gained an international character. Italian and later German prisoners of war attended Mass, and American servicemen from Burtonwood also worshipped in the area. Several marriages between local women and US airmen were celebrated at the church.
After the war, Fr John Dawson expanded parish life, including opening the first parish school in 1952 and strengthening education for local children.
Expansion and Change (1953–1990)
Under Fr Clifford Vincent Murphy, Penketh grew rapidly from farmland into housing estates. This led to the opening of St Joseph’s School in 1963 and St Vincent’s School in 1972.
Canon Cornelius Mullane became parish priest in 1972 and later dean of the Warrington deanery. During his time, Eucharistic ministers were introduced, and two parishioners – Tommy Gates and John McClure – were ordained as permanent deacons.
Following his death in 1990, the Canon Mullane Centre (now the Loreto Centre) was built in his memory.
Into the 21st Century
Successive parish priests, including Mgr John Butchard, Fr Joseph Bibby, Fr Richard Ebo, and Fr John Schofield, continued to guide the parish through periods of change, including the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Parish Today
Since April 2023, St Joseph’s has been home to a small Spiritan community.
The current parish priest is Fr Raymond Anyanwu CSSp, assisted by Fr James Fasakin CSSp.
Today, St Joseph’s continues its mission of worship, service, and community, building on over a century of Catholic faith in Penketh.