Wigan Album

Although St John's is very familiar to me - it's Miss Fen's dancing class held in the side building during the early fifties I remember. No stiffness in those days - I think it was half-a-crown a lesson. I still remember the basic '5 positions'.

lovely memories of school days at the Convent. I have always wondered why two catholic churches were built so close together. Does anyone know

St John is Jesuit (Society of Jesus) whilst St Mary is Roman Catholic

Marie, St Mary's was built by the diocese, and St John's was originally a Jesuit mission. If you go to St Williams Parish Wigan website, click on history, then scroll down to more history, there's an explanation.

Both St John's and St Mary's churches are 200 years old this year, established in 1819 with big celebrations in June. St John's used to attract the richer higher class parishioners. The mosaic tiles that depict Jesus Christ and the cross have been there since about 1970.

Plenty of us without money went there too Mr.X.

I believe the choir was really good - as my dad used to say. He went there rather than St Pats.

Thanks everyone for the info