Our Lady Immaculate Church, Bryn

In 1896, our parish was founded and dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel. Then in 1902, his Lordship, Bishop Thomas Whiteside (who in 1894 had been appointed as the 4th Bishop of Liverpool), laid the foundation stone and dedicated the church to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Our Lady of Good Counsel

The Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Bryn was designed in the style popularised by the famous architectural Pugin family, and opened on the 21st October 1903 with a High Mass sung by Bishop Whiteside. In 1955, the consecration of the church then took place on 8th September (the birthday of Our Lady), and holy relics of 2 very early Roman martyrs - Saints Speciosi and Fructuosi, were placed under the altar stone during High Mass which was celebrated by Archbishop William Godfrey (who later became Cardinal Godfrey, Archbishop of Westminster).

For 100 years, the church has been a central part of the community and parish, being served by 12 priests, the current parish priest being Father Anthony Reynolds.

The Tabernacle is situated behind the Altar in the centre of the old altar which was used for Mass until the renewal of the Liturgy in the 1960's. Catholics believe that the bread and wine at

The Altar

Mass become the true, living Presence of Jesus Christ for us to receive. After Communion at Mass the Blessed Sacrament which has not been received is placed in the Tabernacle to be available for those who wish to receive at some other time and so that Holy Communion may be received by the house-bound. The Lord being present in the Tabernacle in this way, means that there is a centre of devotion for all who want to be near to Him in prayer, believing as we do, that this is a Real Presence, not depending on the way we feel or believe at any particular moment.

Lady Altar

When the parish was first opened in 1886, it was under the partronage of Our Lady of Good Counsel, but when the church was built it was dedicated to Our Lady Immaculate after our belief that, to be worthy of being the Mother of the Divine Word, she was full of grace, and free from sin from the earliest moment of her existence (i.e. conception). Adoring and loving Jesus as Christ the King and the very centre of our lives, it is normal, natural and good to have reverence and love for His Mother, the Queen of Heaven.

Sacred Heart Altar

Especially since the 17th Century, there has been a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - which really means the Loving Person of Our Lord and Saviour. The fact that a soldier pierced his Heart with a lance to verify that he was dead before he could be taken down from the cross, has meant that Christians have seen a wonderful symbolism in his Heart being opened for us when he died for us. On the first Friday of the Month, we show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as he asked us to.

The focal point of the church is the Santuary which is designed for the celebration of the Mass, the principal act of worship of the Church. In the first part of the Mass, at the Ambo, the Lord is present in the proclamation of the Word by the reading of the Scriptures and their application to today's living by preaching. The second part of the Mass takes place at the Altar, and in this the Lord is made present by his Sacrifice, which he showed us at his Last Supper, when he gave himself to his Father and to his disciples under the appearances of bread and wine, telling us to do this in rememberance of Him.

Lourdes Shrine

On entering the church by the main door, and going round in a clockwise direction, the first item to see on one's left is an alcove which was the baptistery until the Liturgy was changed in the 1960's. Up to that time it was the custom to baptise new members of the Church near the door, as a sign that this was the rite of their entry into membership. Since then, baptisms have been performed in a more central place so that the congregation can witness the sacrament as a sign that the new member is being received into the Church as a living community. The baptistery has now been adapted as a Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, recalling the devotion of so many parishioners who have gone to Lourdes, a place of prayer and pilgrimage.

At the back of the church there is a copy of the Michaelangelo masterpiece which is in St Peter's in Rome. It is a moving image of the human values which we should find in the life, work and passion of our Lord.

Baptismal Font

Those becoming members of the Church - whether as infants or adults - are baptised in (or over) the font. This is the first sacrament of the Church, and more can be read about Baptism in the services section of the site.

The Easter Candle in the background is a symbol of rebirth in Christ just as we were all reborn in Christ on the day of the Resurrection. As we come out of the baptismal waters into a new spiritual life we are symbolising Jesus coming out of the tomb into risen glory.

For further information or comments please contact info@ourladysbryn.org.uk