St Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church, Whitefield, Manchester

Is it possible to live stream at St Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church, Manchester?

We have successfully live streamed at St Bernadette’s on several occasions. A camera placed in the rear gallery gives a clear view of the sanctuary. Although the church lacks in-house internet, we use a bonded 4G/5G connection for a stable broadcast. This setup allows family and friends who cannot attend to watch services in real time without disturbance.

History of St Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church

St Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church in Whitefield, Manchester began as a new mission in 1952 under the care of Fr Denis Lee. The permanent church, a brick building designed in modern Romanesque style by architects Reynolds & Scott, had its foundation stone laid in 1955 and opened in 1956. A presbytery was added in 1958 followed by a parish hall in 1961. The sanctuary was later expanded to include side chapels in 1965, and by 1968 the parish had opened St Bernadette’s Primary School on the grounds.

Architecture & Interior

The church is constructed in brick in a simplified Romanesque style. The west front features a central arched entrance topped by a colorful mosaic tympanum. A broad nave with tall side aisles lies beneath a shallow slate roof. Inside, high round-arched arcades separate the nave from the aisles, and a west-end gallery overlooks the nave. Lancet stained-glass windows with vibrant religious motifs line the walls, bathing the interior in softly coloured light.

Fr Denis Lee oversaw St Bernadette’s early growth and the building of the church. A later pastor, Fr Terence Drainey, went on to become a Catholic bishop. Since 1997 the parish has been led by Fr Christopher Lough. In 2009 St Bernadette’s merged with the neighbouring St Michael’s, forming a single parish community under one priest while keeping both churches open for worship.