St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Chesterton, is a welcoming and faith-filled parish community where Catholic life is lived through worship, fellowship, and service. The parish is blessed with a friendly, generous, and inclusive congregation, united by a shared commitment to faith and mutual care.
Sunday Mass is well attended and is followed by refreshments in the adjoining Parish Hall, providing a valued opportunity for parishioners to meet, share conversation, and strengthen community bonds.
The parish is currently served by Fr John Waters, Parish Priest of St Wulstan’s, Wolstanton, who provides pastoral care and ministry to both communities with dedication and devotion.
Parish History
Early Catholic Presence (c.1900–1926)
Local tradition holds that Mass was first celebrated in Chesterton around 1900, in a miners’ hostel. The first established Mass centre was formally opened in 1923, in a hut on Liverpool Road owned by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Association. This centre was served from Holy Trinity, where a curate was specifically appointed to support the Chesterton community.
In 1926, a hall at the north end of Castle Street was acquired and converted into a chapel dedicated to St John the Evangelist, marking the formal beginning of parish life in Chesterton.
Establishment of the Parish (1948–1956)
The first resident priest, Fr Vincent Charles Lucas, was appointed in 1948. He was succeeded in June 1950 by Fr Tim Cronin, previously a curate in Stone. Fr Cronin later described the Castle Street chapel as “an old shack… dilapidated and derelict.”
Fr Cronin celebrated his first Mass as Parish Priest on 11 June 1950, and the following day the parish purchased 2 Wolstanton Road for £3,250, funded through a diocesan loan, to serve as the presbytery.
By 1956, the Castle Street chapel had deteriorated to the point of being structurally unsafe. With permission granted by Archbishop Grimshaw, plans were made for a new church and parish centre on Loomer Road.
The Parish Centre and New Church (1956–1978)
Architects Sandy & Norris of Stafford were commissioned to design a combined church and parish centre on Loomer Road. The project cost £11,000 and was supported by extensive parish fundraising, including dances, raffles, bingo, and a parish tote. Through the dedication of parishioners, the debt was fully repaid by 1973.
With parish finances stabilised, construction of a new, purpose-built church adjoining the parish centre began in 1977. The church was completed in September 1978 and was formally blessed by Archbishop Dwyer on All Saints’ Day, 1 November 1978.
Fr Cronin celebrated his final Mass at St John’s in November 1980, after which he was appointed Parish Priest of St Teresa’s.
The Church Building
The present church is a modest yet dignified octagonal red-brick structure, characteristic of late 1970s ecclesiastical architecture. The building features exposed laminated timber trusses, tall rectangular UPVC windows that allow generous natural light, and a concrete-tiled roof.
A flat-roofed entrance porch incorporates a WC and confessional, while a pyramidal spire—possibly of fibreglass construction—crowns the structure. Internally, buff brick walls and wood panelling around the sanctuary create a simple, prayerful, and reverent worship space. Although minimal in decorative fittings, the church offers an atmosphere of peace and quiet reflection.
The design closely resembles the work of Messrs Lanner of Wakefield, though the original architect remains unconfirmed.
Parish Leadership: Past Parish Priests
| Parish Priest | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Fr Vincent Charles Lucas | 1948–1950 |
| Fr Tim Cronin | 1950–1980 |
| Fr Oliver Kemp | 1980–1985 |
| Fr Denis Clancy | 1985–1990 |
| Fr Anthony Brown | 1990–(Dates TBC) |
| Canon David Goodwin | (Dates TBC) |
| Fr Noel Breslin | 1994–(Dates TBC) |
| Frs. Anthony Dykes, Anthony Davies, Dominic Chukka, Michael Miners | 2000s–2025 (served from St Wulstan’s) |
| Fr John Waters | 2025–Present |
Integration with St Wulstan’s Parish
Since the early 2000s, St John the Evangelist has been served as part of the wider parish of St Wulstan’s, Wolstanton, with shared pastoral leadership and ministry. While working collaboratively within the combined parish structure, St John’s continues to maintain its distinct local identity, community spirit, and active parish life.
Today
Today, St John the Evangelist remains a welcoming and faith-centred parish community. All are invited to participate in the sacramental life of the Church, to grow in faith, and to share in the fellowship of parish life.
Whether you are new to the area, returning to the Church, or seeking a spiritual home, you are warmly welcomed.