---
title: "St Mary Immaculate Conception, Failsworth"
description: "Located in Failsworth, Lancashire. Built 1963–67. Diocese of Salford. Grade II. Modern basilican style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Catholic Church","Lancashire","Failsworth","Grade II","Modernist","Tadeusz Lesisz","Diocese of Salford"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/failsworth-st-mary-immaculate-conception"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:40:30.726Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T00:33:48.974Z"
location: "Failsworth, Lancashire"
country: "England"
county: "Lancashire"
town: "Failsworth"
address: "Clive Road, Failsworth, Lancashire, M35 0NN"
postcode: "M35 0NN"
built: "1963–67"
consecrated: "8 December 1973"
architect: "Tadeusz Lesisz of Greenhalgh and Williams"
denomination: "Catholic Church"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Salford"
grade: "II"
style: "Modern basilican"
materials: "Light brown brick, Westmorland green slate roof, reinforced concrete and cast stone"
website: "http://nativityparish.org.uk/"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Parish of the Nativity"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1448647"
accessNotes: "Accessible toilets in church. Level access throughout"
---

# St Mary Immaculate Conception, Failsworth

The Church of St Mary the Immaculate Conception on Clive Road, Failsworth, is a Grade II Roman Catholic church of 1963–67 by Tadeusz Lesisz of Greenhalgh & Williams. It is now in the Parish of the Nativity in the Diocese of Salford.

## Overview

Historic England lists a modern basilican church in light brown brick with a Westmorland green slate roof, reinforced concrete and cast stone. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded a mission in 1846; a first church, begun in 1855 and opened unfinished in 1865, was damaged in the 1868 Murphy riots, closed in 1959 after subsidence, and demolished in 1964. The congregation used a converted cinema while the new church was built on a different site. The foundation stone was laid on 3 August 1963; contractors were W. Fearnley & Sons of Salford. Lesisz, a Polish-born architect and wartime naval officer, combined Gothic, classical and modern motifs. Features include a ribbed spire, a suspended aluminium statue of the Virgin by E. J. Blackwell, and a floor-to-ceiling sanctuary mosaic, with stained glass designed with Charles Lightfoot.

Furnishings from the Victorian church were reused. A later reordering brought the altar forward. The church was listed in 2017. The Catholic Directory records consecration on 8 December 1973. In 2019 the parish amalgamated with Holy Family, Hollinwood, as the Parish of the Nativity.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1448647](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1448647)
- [Taking Stock: Failsworth](https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/failsworth-immaculate-conception/)
- [Parish of the Nativity](https://nativityparish.org.uk/)