St Columba's began life in 1916 as a chapel of ease to St Patricks. Mass was said in the school ( the chapel is now the infants department). On September 14th 1949 St Columba's was formally constituted as a parish in its own right. In 1957 work began on the present church on Church Lane. The church opened with Christmas Midnight Mass in 1958.
St Columba's serves the Isle of Walney. Over the years much has been achieved. We have a splendid school. The church has changed a little: it was re-ordered in the 1990's, a day chapel was built out of the sacristy and a "social area" is in place at the back of the church. The celebration of Mass is at the heart of the Parish, we have a wonderful choir and a children's liturgy.
Changes are a foot in the near future. Sadly not only is the diocese having a shortage of priests, but also Mass attendance has declined in the parish too. However, we are a people who place our hope and trust in God, his Son Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother.
SAINT PATRICK'S PARISH. AND CHURCH
St Patrick's began life as a chapel of ease sometime in the late 1870's being served from St Mary's. At that time Barrow was expanding rapidly and large population had grown up on Barrow Island. By 1885 a chapel and school had been built ( both now demolished).
In 1901 St Patrick's was formally set up as a separated parish, Fr Barry being the first parish priest. The numbers in the area of the parish continued to grow, especially on Walney Island. In 1916 a chapel of ease was set up on Walney. In 1933, the present church of St Patrick was built and opened. The clergy moved into an existing ( and very large!) farm house, that continues as the presbytery to the present day. At that time St Patricks was a thriving parish with many organisations.
In 1949 St Columba's was separated off and made a new parish. To a certain extent that began a long slow decline for the parish. The parish school closed and by the 1970's those attending Mass had declined to around 120. At this point the church was substantially remodelled – one half being the church the other half a church hall. In 2000 the church was re-ordered according the customs of the neo- catechumenal way.
2003 marked the end of an era. Fr Jim Allen, was the last resident priest, upon his move, the parish was linked to St Columba's and is now served from there.
