For us, as the ‘Church’ and God’s holy people by baptism, the Holy Mass is the source and summit of our belief. Together with other forms of

sacramental participation, the celebration of the Holy Mass is our most visible act of communion. The provision of Holy Mass is at the heart of our faith, and it is around the altar which we gather as the Church. This being so, the time has now come for us to continue our reflection on liturgical and pastoral provision for the people of the Parish of St. Joseph’s and, in due course, for me to come to a decision upon how those pastoral needs are to be met.

As you know, the decision of the Ampleforth community to withdraw from the parish of St. Joseph’s Brindle, was indicated as long ago as 2011; when it was made clear that Dom. Raphael OSB would be the last member of the community to serve here. As part of the earlier phases of our consultation process regarding wider issues, I was very grateful to receive Abbot Robert’s agreement that Dom Raphael’s departure would be postponed until 31st October 2025.

Confirmation of the withdrawal of the Ampleforth Community, gave rise to a good deal of speculation and media interest. From within the parish (and the wider community) there have been expressions of concern. Understandably, those views were wide-ranging. A number of people expressed the importance of the present small but strong parish community in their lives and for their Catholic faith. Some emphasised the historical importance of the Church in Brindle and its associations with recusant times and the martyrs, especially St Edmund Arrowsmith. There were others whose concerns were less directly related to the life of the Church itself, and more focused upon access to buildings previously made available for the wider community.

The Properties

In the past months, there have been various forms of consultation. These have been necessary in order to comply with both Canon and Civil Law. They have involved preliminary deliberations by the Council of Priests and decisions on the part of the Archdiocesan Trustees. As a result of these consultations, the buildings previously made available for the Parish are and will remain the property of the Ampleforth Abbey Trust. This includes the graveyard.

Present Facilities

The Monastic Trustees —very kindly— agreed to a licence to enable temporary use of the Church, meeting room of the presbytery and the graveyard as required. This is of limited duration and will continue to the end of January 2026. As such, and subject to the present licence, the Church and other properties will, after that date, no longer be available for Archdiocesan use.

Pastoral Needs

Upon the departure of Dom. Raphael OSB, I appointed the Rev. Fr. Graeme Dunne (in his capacity as Dean) to act as the Parochial Administrator with responsibility for the pastoral and spiritual care of the community. Since then, Holy Mass has continued to be celebrated only on Saturday at 4.30pm; thereby providing for the Sunday obligation. Baptisms and funerals have also been arranged.

Proposed Provision

My purpose in writing to you now, relates solely to the pastoral needs of parishioners and the means by which those needs may be met in the future. It does not include the use of properties in the ownership of Ampleforth Abbey Trust.

In seeking to identify the way ahead, consideration has been given to the availability of diocesan clergy for deployment to St. Joseph’s Brindle and to potential collaboration with a Religious Institute. However, the non- availability of property for residential and liturgical purposes and the wider practicalities (including property related matters) renders the prospect of such participation remote. Additionally, I am required to recognise that I do not at present have a priest who could be appointed to the parish of St. Joseph’s alone. This is likely to remain the position for the foreseeable future. As such, any proposed arrangement will need to be considered within the context of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan. Most of all, any proposed arrangements will need to be viable and sustainable.

The Church at St. Joseph’s, is within a short distance of St. Bede’s Clayton Green; with St. Chad’s Whittle-le-Woods being further afield. At the present time and given the short-term nature of the licence of the Church building, consideration is being given to the delivery of pastoral provision from St. Bede’s, Clayton Green. Under this proposed arrangement, the parish priest of St. Bede’s would assume the pastoral care of the people of St. Joseph’s; with all liturgical and sacramental celebrations to be conducted at St. Bede’s Church.

Consultation

I have asked Fr. Dunne to read this letter to you as part of my wish to alert you to the proposal and ensure that there is further consultation before any decision is reached. Additional information is being circulated to enable you to communicate with the archdiocese in relation to this proposal. This consultation will be open until 22 January 2026. A meeting will be held on Monday 19 January at 7pm in the Church which I will attend. Thereafter, I will consult once more with the Council of Priests and provide a further update as soon as I am in a position to do so.

I ask for your prayers for myself and for the priests of the Deanery as we journey through this further phase of consultation.

With an assurance of my own prayers for you.

Archbishop John Sherrington

Archbishop of Liverpool

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CONSULTATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ST. JOSEPH, HOGHTON / BRINDLE

1. What is the consultation about?

This consultation concerns how the pastoral needs of the people of St. Joseph’s Parish may be met.

2. What is being proposed?

At present, the proposal is that following the consultation period:

1. the pastoral needs of the parish will be met by the clergy of St.

Bede’s Clayton Green;

2. All future parish services will be conducted at St. Bede’s; and

3. Why now?

In 2011, the Ampleforth Community confirmed that it would be withdrawing from its long-established ministry in the parish of St. Joseph’s, Brindle. It was confirmed that this would take effect when Dom. Raphael OSB returned to the Monastic Community. Dom.Raphael OSB returned to the Monastery following his last Mass in the Parish on 31 October 2025.

There have been consultations concerning the future use of the buildings and Church at St. Joseph’s, Brindle. The buildings (and cemetery) previously used by the parish are the property of the Ampleforth Abbey Trust (AAT). The Church is presently being used under a temporary licence arrangement. This is scheduled to expire on 31 January 2026. Thereafter the Church will no longer be available for Archdiocesan use.

Consideration has been given to the availability of clergy (diocesan and religious) for deployment to St. Joseph’s Brindle. Present and future diocesan clergy numbers do not permit such appointment.

The non-availability of property for residential and liturgical purposes renders the prospect of such religious involvement remote.

4. Does this relate to the buildings previously used by St. Joseph’s Parish?

Whilst this consultation has been prompted by the departure of Dom. Raphael OSB and the temporary use of the Church, it is not otherwise related to the ownership and use of other buildings previously made available to the parish of St. Joseph.

5. Does this affect the use of the Village Hall?

This property is in the ownership of the AAT. Management of that property remains a matter for the AAT and not the archdiocese.

6. Does this relate to the cemetery?

The Cemetery is in the ownership and management of the AAT. Access to this site (including burial rights) are matters for the AAT and not the archdiocese.

7. Do I have a say?

Yes. The purpose of the consultation is to enable parishioners to communicate their own views of the proposal.

8. How can I provide a response?

You may submit your views and response by email to a dedicated email address: sjconsultation@rcaol.org.uk. Submissions will be acknowledged and, in due course, considered prior to the formulation of any decision. Any submissions should be provided by 22 January 2026.

9. What will happen next?

Further updates will be provided concerning the consultation and the scheduling of any meetings to address the proposal and the responses to it. At the end of the entire consultation process, the Archbishop will make a decision and communicate his decision by means of a canonical document known as a Decree.

10. Will there be any public meeting to discuss the proposal further?

It is anticipated that following receipt of responses, a meeting will be held at St. Joseph’s Church and/or St. Bede’s Church. Further announcements will be made by Rural Dean and via the parish newsletter.

11. Who will make the decision?

Decisions regarding pastoral provision are made by the Archbishop.

12. How will the decision be made and communicated?

Before making any decision, the Archbishop will consult with the Council of Priests of the Archdiocese. His concern is for the pastoral needs of the parish and ensuring (as far as possible) that arrangements are made to provide for those needs in a manner which is both viable and sustainable. Any decision will take into consideration all of the relevant circumstances, the requirements of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan, the availability of clergy and the availability of the resources necessary for liturgical participation.

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