St John the Evangelist
Calder Vale, Lancashire
A small, picturesque and much loved early 19th century church, situated above the village of Calder Vale, Lancashire, in beautiful woodland countryside.
St Francis, or Hill Chapel as it is locally known, is a fine example of a 'Barn' style chapel built, in 1755, two miles outside the village of Goosnargh, to avoid the attention of those opposed to Catholicism during penal times. This historic church, the birth place of Blessed George Beesley, one of the Lancashire Catholic martyrs, serves a large Catholic population in this rural area of Lancashire. The beautiful stained glass windows cast a rainbow of light on to the sanctuary. An illuminated wall plaque of Blessed George Beesley can be seen at the back of the church and a replica of the carving made by Beesley during his imprisonment in the Tower of London stands in the church gardens. Hill Chapel offers a perfect environment for prayer and reflection. The award winning gardens are home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife.