Holy Family R C School-Chapel, "Oak Lea", Chaddock Lane, Boothstown
A Roman Catholic mission at Tyldesley was opened in 1865, covering Boothstown and Atherton, under the Mother Church of St Joseph, Leigh, and the first chapel was built as a mission from Sacred Heart, Hindsford, in 1897. This school and chapel building was erected on land to the rear of the present presbytery; Bishop Dobson opened the building on 2 May 1897. Father Richard O’Neill was the first priest in charge, the building had capacity for 240 people at Mass. The presbytery is a former private house built in the mid-19th century and acquired in the 1860s; this was incorporated into the present church in the 1920s. Canon Whiteside of Hindsford commissioned a new church in the late 1920s; the first Mass was celebrated at Christmas 1929 and the church opened by Archbishop Downey on 9 March 1930. Following refurbishment in 2001, the church was consecrated by Archbishop Kelly. The former chapel/school building became the parish centre after a new larger school was built in the post-war period but was demolished in 2003.
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool on Sunday afternoon laid the foundation-stone of a new school-chapel at Boothstown, near Manchester. The chapel is being built to accommodate 240 people, the architects being Messrs. Sinnott, Sinnott and Powell, of Liverpool and Manchester, and the contractor is Mr. Frank Clarke, of St. Helen’s. [Building News 28 August 1896 page 322]
CATHOLIC SCHOOL-CHAPEL, BOOTHSTOWN, TYLDESLEY, LANCASHIRE - A new Catholic school chapel at Oak Lea, Chaddock-lane, Tyldesley, has just been opened. It has been planned for a mixed school, and consists of a schoolroom 48 ft. by 22 ft., and divided from it by sliding glass partition is a class-room 27 ft. by 18 ft., with porches and cloakrooms for boys, girls, and infants, and the usual offices. A portion of the building will be screened off as a sanctuary. The architects were Messrs. Sinnott, Sinnott, and Powell, of Manchester, and the contractor, Mr. Frank Clarke, St. Helens. [ Builder 22 May 1897 page 465]
The Leigh Journal of 7th May 1897 reported the opening of the school and chapel:
On Sunday (2nd May) the opening services were held in the handsome new school-chapel at Oak Lea, Chaddock Lane ... The new school-chapel is admirably adapted to meet the wants of the Catholics of Boothstown, Mosley Common and Astley. It has been planned for a mixed school, and consists of a school room 48 feet by 22 feet and, divided from it by sliding glass partitions, is a class room 27 feet by 18 feet, with porches and cloak rooms for boys, girls and infants, and the usual offices. As was the case on Sunday, a portion will be regularly used on Sundays and Holydays as a chapel, which will accommodate about 240 people.
Reference Building News 28 August 1896 page 322
Reference Builder 5 September 1896 Page 195 and notes
Reference Builder 22 May 1897 page 465
Reference Leigh Journal 7 May 1897