The Roman Catholic Church of St Francis, Goosnargh in the County of -- Lancashire --

	The Roman Catholich Church of St Francis, Goosnargh Photograph supplied by and © of Brian Young

	The Church Sign, St Francis, Goosnargh Photograph supplied by and © of Brian Young

One of the English Franciscans established a 'residence' of the Holy Cross at White Hill in 1687, obtaining a plot of land from Cuthbert Hesketh, who also gave £200 for the missioner. In exchange he had to say two masses per week for Mr Cuthbert and his wife and to serve the poor Catholics of the parishes of Goosnargh and Chipping.

Around 1755 the present St. Francis' Chapel was built at the Hill, and this branch of the Order served the mission till 1813 when the Franciscans at Lee House, Chipping took over until 1833 when the work was transferred to the English Benedictines and they retain it still.

The site of St Francis Chapel, known as The Hill was the residence of the Beesley family around 1600. Francis Beesley was fined for recusancy between 1591 and 1607. His brother George, ordained as a Priest at Rheims in 1587, was sent on the English mission in the following year, that of the Armada. He was captured after about two years, and though tortured to make him reveal the names of his hosts he wouldn’t say anything, and was executed for his priesthood in Fleet Street, London, 1591.

	The Interior of St Francis, Goosnargh Photograph supplied by and © of Brian Young