Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 5th September, 2023)

Like you say Dennis a crying shame a typical sign of the times sadly,Dennis every time I read your name I recollect somebody that worked at Harvey’s Cale lane in the sixties that wouldn’t be you would it.?

It’s dreadful that this building is left to rot! Even St Joseph looks like he’s shaking his fist at the degradation of his earthly home! As if he’s saying “C’mon get something done here instead of leaving me standing on this plinth, surely another place could be found...nice to be back any road and a photo to shake things up!

This old dangerous building should be knocked down before it falls on somebody.

My grandma and grandad was married in this church, it's so sad to see it like this, I hope the statue is removed in one piece, it looks like the windows have been broken.. I've not been able to look at album or pad, for a couple of days. It kept saying there was a fault..Veronica I've text you this morning for help. xx

What a shame about those beautiful windows....the windows on my ancient corner cupboard are like that....individual diamond panes rather than pieces of glass with lead "piped" on top, which is how the modern ones are made. A huge Thankyou to whoever sorted Wigan World out....I've missed everyone so much!

The gift of my childhood
the prayers of my faith
the place of my worship
to keep
From the day I was baptised,
confessed and received
to the name I was handed
confirmed and still heed

I just love this church.. me and my hubby did have a look inside when the vandals had broken a lock , once again.. it is so sad , it’s stripped bare, the roof is missing and pigeons live there, the smell of ammonia from the droppings is overpowering.. I had to throw the trainers that I wore that visit were just thrown out… my life evolved around this church growing up, I just love it, mass every morning..benediction every evening..Sunday morning mass with either my grandma or my dad..I was also in the choir and no I wasn’t over religious I just love going through those doors , my grandparents were married there baptised and so were my own parents.. the only churches I’ve been in since are a couple in Yorkshire Barcelona and Portugal, but there’s none like St Joseph’s.

happy to find that wiganworld is back up and running again. The vandals must come into town to deliberately target this building and a great mess they've made of it too - would their parents be proud of what their children have done? It looks like they've even broken part of the staff off the statue, and probably the one who did it got cheered. Wonder what goes through their minds when they are vandalising such a beautiful building?

I can remember first going into this church in 1971 with my then boyfriend,(in the days when they were open all day)beautiful pink marble communion rail and life-size statues.x

Yes a big thanks to Brian for getting WW back on the internet.
Just found a video in Mick collection of this church.
https://youtu.be/tvp6s1otJ-Y?si=XVm6vky_gOusQGrj

My husband's family went to St Joseph's and my husband attended junior school there. Mick, your throwaway comment "old dangerous building should be knocked down" completely ignores the fact that this was a church which spiritually supported hundreds of Wigan parishioners over the years. It is obviously in a derelict condition, but a bit of respect please?

I was baptised in this church, first confession, first communion and first school in the 50's.So sad to see how a beautiful building has been left to decay so much. Thanks to Brian for getting the site back.

Pat the people who own it haven't show any respect for this building, just because the local wallgaters stopped using it, the owners could have still kept in good repair.

The decline of St Joseph’s Church was because of the demolition of the housing nearby. People were moved on out of St Joseph’s parish that’s one answer for the empty pews. It was a very thriving parish as was St Pat’s up to the late sixties. The church would have belonged to the L’pool diocese I don’t know if it was sold on or not.

No John, I have never worked at Harvey’s.

Thank you Mick. A lot of truth in that as well.

I just love this church.. me and my hubby did have a look inside when the vandals had broken a lock , once again.. it is so sad , it’s stripped bare, the roof is missing and pigeons live there, the smell of ammonia from the droppings is overpowering.. I had to throw the trainers that I wore that visit were just thrown out… my life evolved around this church growing up, I just love it, mass every morning..benediction every evening..Sunday morning mass with either my grandma or my dad..I was also in the choir and no I wasn’t over religious I just love going through those doors , my grandparents were married there baptised and so were my own parents.. the only churches I’ve been in since are a couple in Yorkshire Barcelona and Portugal, but there’s none like St Joseph’s.