Welcome to the
Church of St. Anne
Westby Mills
OUR PARISH PRIEST - FATHER STEPHEN PEARSON
Father Stephen arrived as parish priest of Freckleton and administrator of St Anne’s Westby in
June 2024 after completing ten years as Cathedral Dean at St. Peter’s Catholic Cathedral in Lancaster.
He was born in the Holy town of Barrow and baptised in St Mary's, Barrow and received his other sacraments of initiation there. In this
parish he was an altar server and reader. After leaving school and working for five years he went to
university in Kent, Canterbury and then went to Oscott Seminary.
He was ordained in his parish church of St Mary's, Barrow on June 9th 1990. His first appointment
was in Our Lady's Carlisle where he was mentored and inspired by Monsignor Greg Turner. In 1996, Fr Steve came to spend six years at Lancaster University chaplaincy and shared how this had given him chance to learn much about ecumenism and students!
In 2002 he was appointed to St Gregory's, Preston which it would seem has close connections with Preston North End. Moving from Preston to Blackpool where he was parish priest for 9 years. On 21st May 2014 he moved to the parish of St. Peter’s Catholic Cathedral in Lancaster.
The Choir
We have a small but enthusiastic group of choristers and a violinist, theyare invited to sing at weddings, funerals and special occasions as well as weekly Mass. Our Choir is always looking for new members, both men & ladies, to join them. If you areinterested in joining, please see Jane after Mass on Sunday or email: stannewestby@gmail.com
HISTORY OF CHURCH OF ST. ANNE, WESTBY
In the 1740s as the religious climate was beginning to ease, Squire Thomas Clifton commenced building a chapel immediately to the south of Westby Hall. This was formally opened on May 1st 1742. Like nearly all the chapels in the Fylde, it was of two storeys, the upper floor comprising the chapel and priests accommodation, the ground floor being used for farm purposes. This was probably known as St Anne's Chapel. On September 21st 1784, Bishop Matthew Gibson made a visitation to the chapel, he confirmed 78 members of the congregation, the number of communicants being 360.
In 1831, the then Lord of the Manor, Thomas Clifton, despite the long family tradition of catholicity became a Protestant. In 1845 he closed the chapel at Westby Hall to the Catholics, stating that the faithful could travel either to The Willows, Kirkham or to St. Peters, Lytham for their religious services. This unsatisfactory situation prevailed for many years until the Rev. Dean Hines of the Willows, mindful of the inconvenience of part of his flock, and of the increasing overcrowding of his own church, began to promote the idea of building a new church for the Westby and Plumpton Catholics.
On October 14th 1858, two acres of land was purchased at Westby Mills from John Talbot Clifton and James Fair (the Clifton land agent) by the Rt Rev Alex Goss, Bishop of Liverpool, Thomas Cookson and James Fisher, with the intention of building a church, prestbytery and a school. The price was £160. (Note: The Fylde was part of the Diocese of Liverpool unitl 1924).
The foundation stone of the church, dedicated to St Anne, was laid by the Bishop
of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Goss on May 31st 1859. The Bishop formally opened the
church on August 26th 1860 and on December 4th 1860 he consecrated the altar.
The church was consecrated by Bishop Whiteside on November 8th 1900. The
reason for the long delay could be connected with the clearing of the parish debt
arising from the building of not only the church and presbytery, but also the
school and head-teacher's house.
The cemetary was approved for burials on April 18th 1864, the first burial
recorded is that of Catherine Whiteside on May 24th 1868.
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