Edward McCarthy Support Services

15/09/2026

A grand day out to Preston for Rebecca and Sean.

12/09/2026

WigansChurchesWednesday

Worsley Mesnes Mission. The photograph, dated 1943, is from WiganWorld and shows the women who worked hard to keep the Mission going during the Second World War and to support soldiers serving abroad.

We first heard about Worsley Mesnes Mission when we were chatting to a good friend, now well into her 90s. Fond memories came flooding back and it is our great pleasure to research the Mission’s story for her. Unlike Belle Green Mission in Ince, the Mission building in Worsley Mesnes is still standing on Poolstock Lane, in use as a Community Centre and in the winter as a ‘Warm Hub’.

Established by St. James’s church in Poolstock to serve the growing population of Worsley Mesnes, the Mission traces its origins back to 1885 when Mrs. Waddington and Mrs. Johnson began a Sunday School in a disused billiard hall.

In January 1893 the first service was held in the present Mission building, ‘the whole room being closely packed with people, many being unable to obtain an entrance.’

Our friend remembers the sadness everyone felt when Walking Days were cancelled in the Second World War and how the parishioners helped each other out when rationing began. She recalls the monthly Sunday 8am Communion Services when there was no one available to play the organ so the Welsh vicar, Revd. Owen, blessed with a fine singing voice, led the hymns.

She remembers the fun they all had at the Mission especially the Saturday night dances, the ‘6d hops’ when they were encouraged to bring along a bag of Lux soap flakes to discretely spread on the floor making it better for dancing.

The partly legible Foundation Stone is still there on the Mission facing Poolstock Lane. It tells us the land the Mission building was built on was donated by Mrs. Wyatt of Hawley Parsonage in Hampshire and that Mrs. Tom Brown of Shelley House laid the stone. Who these two women were and how they were linked to Wigan is the subject of our current research, for they too played a part in building Wigan’s churches.

Read more about St. James's Poolstock on our website
https://whobuiltwiganschurches.co.uk/churches/st-james-poolstock/
Find out about their Heritage Open Day this Sunday, 12 September, when the church is celebrating its 160th anniversary - includes bell ringing!
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-james-with-st-thomas-church-160th-anniversary-plus-bellringing-experience.html

Thanks to www.wiganworld.co.uk for the image.

12/09/2026

Community Skip is back!

We’re back this summer, 10am–2pm across West Lancashire!

💬 Meet council officers, share your views, and help shape our services.

🗑️ FREE skip at every event for household waste (no tyres, oil, paint, asbestos, fridge freezers; self‑loading only).

Please note: We would encourage those who have access to a car or vehicle to use your local recycling centre if possible to leave capacity for those to use this skip for those without access to a car.

Dates and Locations:

Monday 14th September – Furnival Drive, Burscough
Monday 28th September – Manfield, Skelmersdale
Monday 12th October – Deardon Way, Up Holland

For more info or to get involved:
📩 [email protected]

12/09/2026

Luncheon Club is back today, 12.30 at Cottage Lane Mission Church. Why not come along and check out our wonderful home cooked meals? 3 courses for just £5 donation! We hope to see you there...Jo and the team 😊

11/09/2026

This week Catherine and Graham met our new member of staff, Rebecca. Catherine worked hard as usual in the gym, then a trip to Ormskirk and Burscough. On Tuesday we had a trip into Liverpool with Graham. He made a long Christmas list while he was at the Lego shop. Today Conor enjoyed a walk up to the Dream.

10/09/2026

Church Walk.

09/09/2026

Lovely visit today to see Crafting The World of The Lord in the beautiful Church in Parbold.

04/09/2026

A nice day out to Knowsley Safari Park with Chris today.

03/09/2026