Holy Cross Church, St Helens

Holy Cross Church
Church of the Holy Cross and St Helen
Front - Eastern Aspect
Holy Cross Church
53°27′13″N 2°43′55″W / 53.4537°N 2.7320°W / 53.4537; -2.7320
OS grid reference	SJ5148795464
Location	St Helens, Merseyside
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	http://holycrosssthelens.business.site/
History
Status	Active
Architecture
Functional status	Church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	23 August 1985[1]
Architect	Joseph John Scoles
Groundbreaking	3 May 1860
Completed	1 May 1862
Administration
Province	Liverpool (aka Northern)
Archdiocese	Liverpool
Deanery	St Helens - St Monica Pastoral Area
Parish	Holy Cross
Clergy
Archbishop	Most Rev. John Sherrington
Priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Jino Arikkatt MCBS, Rev. Fr. Anto Varghese MCBS

Holy Cross and St Helen Church is a Roman Catholic church in St Helens, Merseyside. The church was built in 1860 by the Society of Jesus. It was designed by Joseph John Scoles and is a Grade II listed building.[1]

The church was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1860. Fr Thomas Seed, the head of the Jesuits in Britain, who also founded Sacred Heart Church in Edinburgh laid the foundation stone of the church on 3 May 1860, what was then Feast of the Finding of the True Cross.

The church was designed by Joseph John Scoles who also designed St Ignatius Church, Preston in Lancashire, Immaculate Conception Church, Farm Street in London and the Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Liverpool. Construction of the church lasted for almost two years and the church was opened on 1 May 1862.[1]

In the church there is a memorial stone dated 1933, showing when the Jesuits handed over the church to the Archdiocese of Liverpool, who have continued to administer it ever since.

Sunday Mass is at 10am. Weekday Masses are as follows: 12.15pm Monday - Friday, and 10am on Saturday. Confessions are from 11am to 11.45am before the 12.15pm Mass. There are no confessions on Tuesdays. In addition Exposition takes place each day. The church is open for adoration 10am - 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Entrance to the church is via Corporation Street (southern side) or Parade Street (northern side), where there is also an additional gate for level access. The original front entrance is no longer used.

In July 2020, the church of SS Peter & Paul, Haresfinch was closed, and this parish was merged into the parish of Holy Cross and St Helen under its former Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Kevan O'Brien.

In January 2025, Fr. O'Brien retired after more than 20 years serving the people of St. Helens. The parish is now under the care of Fr. Jino Arikkatt, of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Anto Varghese recently joined the parish as assistant parish priest.

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  North-Eastern aspect of Church of Holy Cross & St. Helen, St. Helens, Merseyside
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  Southern aspect of Church of Holy Cross & St. Helen, St. Helens, Merseyside

• Listed buildings in St Helens, Merseyside

• Archdiocese of Liverpool website