St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, Blackpool

Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Church, located at the corner of Devonshire Road and All Hallows Road in the northern suburb of Bispham, Blackpool, is a modest yet vibrant parish with deep community roots. Established in response to a growing Catholic population, its story begins in 1939, when Mass was first celebrated in humble settings-a library reading room and later a cocktail bar at the Red Lion Hotel. A turning point came when a local Catholic woman donated her home on Devonshire Road, providing not only a priest’s residence but also the first real foothold for the emerging parish.

Led by Fr. T.H. Marsden, daily Mass began with his army altar, soon followed by plans for a permanent church. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Thomas Flynn on July 3, 1949. Less than a year later, on April 16, 1950-fittingly the feast of Saint Bernadette-the new church was opened and blessed. Designed by Mackeith Dickinson & Partners, the church was built in brick with later stucco touches added during renovations in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These updates included a reworked altar, an expanded sacristy, a new porch, and a choir loft-improvements funded largely through parishioners’ generous support.

Today, Saint Bernadette’s remains a cornerstone of local Catholic life, known not for grand architecture but for its spirit of welcome. The church is active in outreach, offering support to the sick and housebound, contributing to food banks, and hosting community events. Though it may not appear on Blackpool’s list of historic landmarks, its enduring role in the lives of worshippers gives it a quiet significance. Parishioners often say: it may be simple-but it's sincere, and Christ is always present.