OUR LADY OF RECONCILIATION DE LA SALETTE CHURCH.
Our Lady Of Reconciliation De La Salette Church, Eldon Street, Liverpool.
Edward Pugin designed this fine Roman Catholic church, which was constructed between 1859 and 1860. Our Lady of Reconciliation is built from stone, and decorated in a Gothic style. It is one of a number of practical and attractive churches that Pugin designed for Liverpool in the 1850s and 1860s.
The Parish was first established in 1854, with dedication to St Helen. The first church is believed to have been a converted warehouse in Blackstock street, though other items list it as a shed. Blackstock street is very close to the present site in Eldon street.
The church was built by the first parish priest, Father Vandepitte from Belgium, and opened its doors on 15th August 1860.
Along with other churches it was built for the needs of the huge influx of Irish into the city, who had been forced to flee their homeland after the famine. From the 1870's it also catered for a large Lithuanian community, who's influence can be seen in the church today with the Lady Alter, and the picture of Our Lady of Vilna.
Anyone wanting to go and view the war memorial or visit the church will find the current priest and staff very friendly and helpful. I would advise anyone who can get to the church to make a visit, as it is only way to really appreciate its beauty.
I dont think my writings can do the church justice, so I have added a link to the Scottie Press web site. There you will find a section relating to the church and parish history. It is a really good site with many old photographs, you can view it by clicking on this link http://www.scottiepress.org/gallery/ourladys.htm
Rootsweb has photographs of the church at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hibernia/churches/rectn1.htm
