Clare was born into a rich family in Assisi. At 18 she was inspired by the preaching of St. Francis of Assisi urging people to "live after the manner of the holy gospel". Soon afterwards she sought out St. Francis and renounced her former way of life, replacing her fine clothes with a sackcloth tunic. She joined a Benedictine convent. Initially, friends and relations tried to drag her away, but later her mother and other relations joined her. She became abbess at about 22 and drew up a rule following St. Francis’ teaching, including that the sisters shall possess no property as individuals or as a community. She led the sisters for 40 years until her death, showing the way by fasting and prayer. Today, the Poor Clares order of nuns, still live out her example.

The site was sold to the diocese for a nominal sum for the specific purpose of establishing a new parish. The first Mass was celebrated on November 14 1971 in the school, which had opened a few weeks previously. In 1972, a Nissen hut was bought from the RAF and erected by parishioners to form a temporary church. It became a social centre (since replaced) when the present church building was opened in 1979. The unusual shape of the church represents a tent symbolising journeying, in particular the Israelites’ travels in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.

There is a variety of ministries. The general parish ministry is done largely by the Parish Priest, Fr Michael Lakeland. Fr Philip Smith is chaplain to the hospital. The third main area of ministry is that to St. Clare’s Primary School for whom Fr Lakeland is spiritual director, making a large contribution to the first communion and confirmation programmes. There are about 600 regular attenders at Mass and the parishioners play a strong and increasing role in the life and worship of the parish, for example as Readers, Eucharistic Ministers and Catechists. For Sunday Mass, the children have their own Liturgy of the Word before rejoining their families for the communion service which is the heart of the Mass. There is a wide range of other groups including Uniformed Groups and a Third World Group. The parish faces many of the challenges common to other churches, including the struggle to promote the values of the holy gospel in an increasingly secular and materialistic society.

St. Clare’s was one of the initial signatories of the Fulwood and Broughton Covenant and has hosted many of the significant events of Churches Together, one of the most memorable being the induction of Rev. Donald Parsons as the first leader of Churches Together in Lancashire. We look forward to growing closer to our brothers and sisters from the other Christian traditions with whom we share our part of the town.

Web site