St John the Evangelist's Church, Kirkham

St John the Evangelist's Church in Kirkham, known locally as The Willows, is a Roman Catholic parish church on Ribby Road in Kirkham, Lancashire, in the Fylde area. It was built between 1842 and 1845 to a design by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, one of the leading architects of the British Gothic Revival. The building is Grade II listed and remains an active place of worship.

Why is it called The Willows?

A chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross opened on this site in 1809, built by Fr William Irving. Willow trees grew around it, and the chapel became known as The Willows. The name stuck and is still used today, even though the present church replaced the original chapel.

Who designed the church, and when was it consecrated?

The architect was Pugin, famous for his work on the interiors of the Palace of Westminster. The Kirkham church is his only church in the Fylde. Construction ran from 1842 to 1845, and Bishop Brown of Liverpool consecrated it on 22 April 1845. Local tradition holds that it rang out the first peal of bells from a Catholic church since the Reformation.

What does the building look like?

The church is built of sandstone with slate roofs, in the Gothic Revival style that Pugin championed as a return to medieval church architecture. The churchyard wall and gateway to the south are separately listed at Grade II. This part of the complex dates from 1845 and is also by Pugin.

How has the interior changed?

Significant alterations were made by Fr Francis John Gillow, parish priest from 1895 to 1927. He lowered the floor by about two feet and removed the entrance steps at the west door. He moved the rood screen to the back of the church, and altered, extended and refurnished the sacristy. Around 1906 the present pulpit, altar rails and high altar in Carrara marble were installed.

Who should visit?

• Fans of Victorian architecture and Pugin's work, usually associated with larger places than Kirkham.
• Anyone interested in the history of English Catholicism after the Reformation.
• Travellers exploring the Fylde coast and the area between Preston and Blackpool.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church still in use? Yes, it is an active parish church, so visiting times depend on services. Please be quiet and respectful of worshippers.

Where is it? On Ribby Road in Kirkham, a town in Lancashire.

Is it a listed building? Yes, both the church and the churchyard wall and gateway are Grade II listed.

What does The Willows mean? The name comes from the willow trees that grew around the earlier chapel of 1809.

Who built it? It was designed by A. W. N. Pugin and built between 1842 and 1845.