The Roman Catholic Church of Brownedge Saint Mary, Bamber Bridge in the County of -- Lancashire --

	The sign at Brownedge Saint Mary Photograph supplied by and © of Brian Young

	Brownedge Saint Mary Photograph supplied by and © of Brian Young

For several miles around this district there was a Benedictine priest to look after the Catholic community from early in the 18th century. In 1780 the actual foundation at Brownedge was made by Fr. Oswald Eaves, and a room in a house adjoining the presbytery served as a chapel. Fr. Anselm Brewer, who was Rector from 1822 to 1847, erected the first church. This was replaced by a fine and commodious edifice capable of holding 1,500 people, built in 1892 by the Rector, Father Austin Pozzi.

Fr. Thomas Clarkson and Fr. Anselm Turner have been Rectors here in the nineteenth century. Beautiful stained-glass windows of the English Martyrs have been placed in the church.

Taken from "Salford Diocese and its Catholic past", a survey by Charles A. Bolton, a Priest of the above Diocese. Published 1950 on the First Centenary for the Diocese of Salford.

The Church was built in 1826 as a replacement for a chapel. A spire was added in 1866 and the church was partly rebuilt in 1892. It has a neo-gothic alter.