Location Holywell, Flintshire Denomination Roman Catholic Heritage designation Grade II listed Address Holywell CH8 7PL, UK Province Cardiff Designated as world heritage site 19 August 1991 | Country United Kingdom Founder(s) Society of Jesus Groundbreaking 1832 Dedication Saint Winifred Deanery Flintshire Architect Joseph John Scoles | |
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Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham Similar St Winefride's Well, St Winefride Church - S, St John's Church - Wigan, Holy Trinity Church - Chipping, Woodhall House - Edinburgh | ||
St Winefride's Church (also known as St Winifred's Church or St Winefred's Church) is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Holywell, Flintshire. It was founded by the Society of Jesus and was first church in the United Kingdom to be administered by the Vocationist Fathers. It is Grade II listed building. It was the first church the Jesuits built in Wales.
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History
It was founded by the Jesuits in 1832. They went on to establish St Beuno's College in 1848. From the college they also founded other churches such as Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Rhyl and Our Lady of Ransom and the Holy Souls Church in Llandrindod Wells.
At some point in the twentieth-century they handed over the church to the Diocese of Wrexham. On 19 August 1991, the church was designated a Grade II listed building.
On 6 April 2008, the Bishop of Wrexham, Edwin Regan, invited the Vocationist Fathers to the church and who continue to administer the parish.
Holywell
For the main article, see St Winefride's WellWithin the parish is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, St Winefride's Well, a shrine and site of pilgrimage. The shrine and relics are in the care of the church.
Pantasaph
For the main article, see PantasaphClose to the parish, near Holywell, is the National Shrine of St Pio and St David's Church in the village of Pantasaph. It was founded in 1852, by the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and also houses a retreat centre.
Parish
The Vocationist Fathers also serve the Sacred Heart church in Hawarden. The church was founded by the Diocese of Wrexham and was built in the late twentieth century. It has one Sunday Mass at 11:00am.
St Winefride's has three Sunday Masses, one at 6:00pm on Saturday evening in the church, and at 9:30am and 5pm on Sunday in the chapel of St Winefride's Well. There are weekday Masses at 9:30am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at 7:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday.