Our Lady and St. Joseph's Parish, Heywood
St. Joseph's Presbytery, Mary Street,
Heywood
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Before 1852 Catholics in Heywood walked to Bury or Rochdale for Mass. From 1852 the first Masses were celebrated in Heywood since the secret Masses at Hopwood Hall and Ashworth Hall in penal times. In 1853 the parish of St. Joseph's was founded. The first church stood where Dunne's now stands. The present church, on TAYLOR STREET, was opened in 1916. In 1962 the Darn Hill estate was built and the parish of Our Lady and St. Paul's founded. Its church, on SUTHERLAND ROAD, was opened in 1969. In 2011 both parishes became one parish of Our Lady and St. Joseph's, including all of Heywood and that part of Birtle south of Cheesden Brook from Ashworth Rd to the Bury boundary.
