St Kentigern's Catholic Church, Newton Drive, Blackpool
ST KENTIGERN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH (BLACKPOOL) - In 1926, Robert Mercer a parishioner and partner in the firm of Mercer and Duckworth, architects, was commissioned by Canon Robert McManus to design a new church for the Parish of St Kentigern in the newly formed Diocese of Lancaster. Mercer's sketch plans and floor layout accommodated 632 parishioners. It was intended that this building replace the original church which subsequently became the parish hall. However, there were certain financial difficulties to be resolved before building work could be commenced, not least the clearing of the debt on the existing mission church. Thus, it was not until December 1929 that working drawings were finally completed. By this stage the Mercer-Duckworth partnership was coming to an end. Subsequent work was in the name of Robert Mercer alone.
CATHOLIC EXTENSION IN LANCASHIRE - Proposed New Church. The progress of Catholicity on the eastern side of Blackpool has been such that the parishioners of St. Kentigern's propose to build a new church, with presbytery when they have cleared off the debt on the present mission church, which was opened in 1904. [Wearside Catholic News 28 November 1925 page 2]
The plans for a second new church in Blackpool. St. Kentigern's are now complete. It will be a gothic building with nave and aisles. and when complete will have a spire 140 feet high, which, from the commanding position on which it will stand, will dominate the town. . . . . [Lytham Times 6 December 1929 page 12]
BLACKPOOL'S NEW CHURCH - Bishop Pearson, O.S.B., of Lancaster laid the foundation-stone of St. Kentigern's new church at Newton Drive. Blackpool, on, Sunday afternoon. The church is expected to cost £29.000 when completed in the New Year. Planned to seat 700 people, the architectural style employed is the Gothic. Special features in the design include a large west window and a rose window on the east elevation. The windows will be embellished with stained glass, the gift of various local Catholics. All interior woodwork will be of oak or pitch pine. [Leicester Catholic News 18 October 1930 page 1]
Messrs. W. Eaves and Co., Ltd., of Blackpool, whose firm was founded about fifty years ago, have been responsible for the erection of many of the principal public buildings in Blackpool. They were the builders of Upholland College and Chapel at Wigan, and have constructed St Kentigern's Church, Blackpool, which is to be opened on Sunday. [Liverpool Daily Post 30 July 1931 page 13]
The new Church of St Kentigern at Newton Drive, Blackpool, was opened for the first time on Sunday When it was computed 2,000 people attended the Masses. Bishop Pearson O.S.B. of Lancaster will solemnly open the Church on the first Sunday in August.
THE foundation-stone of the new church was laid in 1930 by Bishop Pearson upon an elevated site adjoining the existing schools in Newton Drive. The estimated cost of the undertaking is £30,000 this including the church and a presbytery. At present the building of the presbytery is being deferred. Architecturally the church Is Gothic in style of the Early English period. The height from the nave floor level to the apex of the west gable is 55 feet. In addition to the High Altar. there are two side chapels, dedicated to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin, which are carried out in stone from the famous Caen quarries of Normandy. The High Altar has not yet been installed, and the High Altar from the old church is being used until its erection a month hence. The interior is enhanced by seven beautiful stained-glass windows including a rose window in the east elevation, over the High Altar. These have all been donated by parishioners. A spire, 150 feet in height, is included in the building scheme. but this will not be erected for some time yet. [Nottingham and Midland Catholic News 27 June 1931 page 16