St Mary’s Church Exterior.

Broadfield Drive Leyland Lancashire PR25 1PD

I was first here in 2019 – it was raining, so snapping the exterior was a soggy task.

Returning in 2025 on a sunny day was a blessing.

This is a suburban church with the ambition of a Modernist cathedral – a radical construction in concrete, brick, stone and glass.

It more than deserves its Grade II Listing.

The Benedictines came to Leyland in 1845 and the first Church of St. Mary’s was built on Worden Lane in 1854. The Catholic population was small at this time, but had grown to around 500 by 1900. Growth was assisted by the industrial development of Leyland and after the Second World War the town was earmarked as the centre of a new town planned in central Lancashire. By the early 1960’s, the Catholic population was 5,000. Fr Edmund Fitzsimmons, parish priest from 1952, was a guiding force in the decision to build a large new church of advanced liturgical design, inspired by progressive continental church architecture of the mid 20th century.  The church was designed by Jerzy Faczynski of Weightman and Bullen. Cardinal Heenan blessed the foundation  stone  in  1962  and  the  new  church  was  completed  ready  for  its consecration and dedication by Archbishop Beck in April 1964.

Dalle de Verre stained glass by Patrick Reyntiens.

Large polychrome ceramic mural representing the Last Judgment by Adam Kossowski occupies the width of the porch above the two double-doored entrances.

Let’s take a turn around this stunning building – the etched glass on the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is by Jerzy Faczynski.

Take a look inside too!