By Christine O'Neill

The Parish of St Teresa of Avila will celebrate it’s Centenary in January 2025.

St Teresa’s School opened in 1898 with Fr Hearne of Sacred Heart Parish as the Parish Priest of the area.

He died in 1920 and it was 1925 before St Teresa’s was officially designated as a new Parish with Fr Henry Fitzgerald given the task of developing the Mission Church in the Newtown area of St Helens.

He set on his task of building a temporary church and this was opened in 1927, and the new Parish thrived.

Fr Fitzgerald continued to work tirelessly on fund-raising for a new church. He died in 1952 and Fr Morrissey was appointed Parish Priest. Building began in February 1964 and in September 1964 the newly appointed Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend George Andrew Beck blessed the foundation stone of this new church.

The opening and Consecration of the new St Teresa’s Church by Archbishop Beck was in July 1965. This was when History was made – the Consecration and Solemn High Mass for the opening of this new Church was in English for the first time in the history of Roman Catholic Church in England.

This Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the parish priest Fr. Francis Morrissey. For him it was the end of many busy weeks of preparation.  He had the task of translating the psalms, hymns, antiphons and directions for the three-hour long service from Latin and Greek into English.

The Parish has had over 30 priests serving their community over the last 99 years, including Bishop Tom Neylon and current Parish Priest, Fr Martin Kershaw.

Christine is compiling a history of the Parish from 1925 and would be most grateful for any photographs, written memories of any significant moments in the Parish history and how the Liturgical year was celebrated. People may have recollections of the many Sodality, Confraternity and parish groups which formed a great religious and social bond between parishioners.

As the generations progress through the life of a Parish, many find work and make lives elsewhere, but still have treasured familial memories of St Teresa’s Parish. If you can help provide further material for this historical compilation to help celebrate the Parish Centenary in 2025, please contact her via the details below.

Email; cmoneill2010@hotmail.co.uk   or Tel: 01744 605087