Over 150 years of parish life, rediscovered

Sharing our Stories

A National Lottery Heritage Fund supported project that catalogued and preserved the historical archive items of St Walburge’s Church, Preston.

With thanks

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund

The Sharing our Stories project exists thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Without National Lottery players, the work of cataloguing, conserving, and sharing the heritage of St Walburge’s with the wider community would not have been possible. We are grateful for their continued commitment to preserving the heritage of communities across the country.

Introduction

About the Project

Sharing our Stories is part of Sharing our History, All Under One Roof, a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported project based at St Walburge’s Church in Preston.

At its heart is a significant collection of historical documents and photographs that have been held by the church for generations. These records tell the story of the parish and the community that has gathered around it.

The work of this project was to bring that collection properly into the light. Volunteers and students catalogued and conserved the material alongside professionals from Lancashire Archives, before it was deposited for long-term preservation and made accessible for future research.

What we’ve found

The Archive

A century and a half of parish life is held in the parish archive. Explore some of the most interesting finds, organised around the themes our volunteers chose to research.

Stone statue of Jesus on the cross at St Walburge's, secured during restoration work.

An 1896 painting by E. Beattie showing the former St Walburge's presbytery and schools, replaced in 1903.

Vintage photograph of a wartime or post-war parade of uniformed women marching through a Preston street.

Group photograph of Catholic clergy and dignitaries outside the walls of St Walburge's.

Vintage black-and-white photograph of a St Walburge's religious street procession featuring a large crucifix float.

Historic photo of children and altar servers gathered at the St Walburge's sanctuary for the May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Archival group photograph of a large class of schoolboys posed outdoors with two female teachers and a male teacher against a brick school building.

Historic architectural sketch design for a marble wall-lining with a series of pointed arches.

Historic black-and-white photo of a St Walburge's procession with children dressed as angels, led by a child carrying a "Fervour" banner.

Historic handwritten letter in cursive script, signed by Father Newcastle.

The Latest

Project News & Updates

A record of the project as it has developed. From the first boxes opened at St Walburge’s to the items now catalogued, conserved, and handed over to Lancashire Archives for long-term preservation, this is where we have documented the work as it happened.

Volunteer Voices

Connecting our community, sharing our heritage.

What began as archiving became something more. A community discovering its own history. The work of Sharing our Stories was carried out by a dedicated group of volunteers and students who gave their time to handle, catalogue and research the archive.

Held in July 2026

The Exhibition

In July 2026, the project culminated in a public exhibition at St Walburge’s, sharing with visitors the discoveries, stories and archive material our volunteers had uncovered.

The Church

About St Walburge’s

St Walburge’s is a Roman Catholic church in the heart of Preston, served by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) and forming part of the Diocese of Lancaster. Its spire is one of the tallest in England and a landmark on the Preston skyline, visible for miles around.

Designed by Joseph Hansom and consecrated in 1854, St Walburge’s stands among the finest examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in Britain. Its 309-foot spire is the tallest of any parish church in England.

1854

Consecrated

309 ft

Spire Height

Grade I

Listed Building

Get in touch

Interested in working with the archive?

From academic research to local heritage projects, there are many ways to make use of the St Walburge’s archive. Get in touch with our project coordinator to find out more.