St Josephs School

We thank Ged Fagan for providing two photographs which we add to our archive collection of St Joseph's Parish. The St Joseph's pupils photograph was taken around the year 1957/58 when the pupils photographed were making their 'First Holy Communions'. Ged tells us that pictured on the photograph is his brother Joseph who attended Bishop Goss School from 1956 to 1962. We would be interested to hear from readers who may be able to recognise themselves on the photograph.

Ged also provides photograph which pictures Altar Boys from St Joseph's Church who are photographed with Mr Brady and Mr O'Keeffe in 1969. Pictured on the photograph are Vincent McGreal, Steven Ryan and Michael Farrell. Once again we would be interested in hear from readers who may be able to recognise themselves.

Ged's photographs are part of an album he is putting together with the hopes of having a book published about the St Joseph's Parish area and surrounding areas - in particular the tenements that were a feature of the landscape.

If you are interested in this project and may be able to add to Ged's collection of photographs you can contact him - fagen@rosewoodtrucking.co.uk

ST JOSEPH'S PARISH

St Joseph's parish has a long and distinguished history. This history began in 1844 when Father John Murphy purchased the former Church of England church All Saints in Grosvenor Street. In 1845 the church was dedicated to St Joseph. And formerly opened on 17th March 1878. Over the years the church was the religious base for both Irish and Italian settlers in the community. The church was demolished in 1979.

The photographs below tell something of the history of St Joseph's parish and we would like to produce a more detailed pictorial account. We welcome hearing from current and former residents of the parish who may be able to provide additional photographs and or memories of the parish. We take this opportunity to thank Alan Coutts for providing a photograph of the Pontack Darts Team 1955 and a Church Procession in Christian Street. Former and current residents of the St Joseph's Parish area may remember when Don Coutts was the Licensee of the Pontack Pub. Alan recalls being sent to the local Corner Shop on Springfield Street and Clare Street with his mums 'Ration Book' and a list of shopping - Alan asks if any readers can recall the owner or the name of the shop?

Our Thanks go to Jim Delacoe for providing the four photographs above which show Howgates shop on the corner of Grosvenor Street and Juvenal Street, processions from St Joseph's Church and St Joseph's Church Women's Guild.

St Joseph's church once had over 10,000 parishioners. That was when the area was heavily populated with people from areas such as Gerard Gardens, Victoria Square, Lawrence Gardens, Milton Street, Edgar Street, Cavendish and Alexander Pope Street, Chaucer Street, Christian Street, Birkett Street, Holly Street etc.

At one time five Priests served the parish including Fr Green, Fr Montgomery, Fr Tobin, Fr Furlong and Fr Pownall. Demolition of old houses in the 1950s followed in the 1960s and 1970s with demolition of houses to make way for the second Mersey Tunnel reduced the population of St Joseph's Parish to 1,000.

Bishop Alexander Goss (who was born in 1814) became Bishop of Liverpool in 1856 and it was under his firm administration that Catholicity in Liverpool made great advances with many churches and schools being built. Bishop Goss School was built in Rose Place alongside St Joseph's Church. We welcome hearing from readers who may have class photographs of Bishop Goss School pupils which can be added to this archive webpage.