About Us

The parish of St Mary the Virgin is in the modern catholic tradition where vestments are worn and the blessed sacrament is reserved.  The sacrament of reconciliation is available by appointment.

The name Eccleston means "church town" and indicates a church here in pre-Saxon days. The present building is the third on the site and dates from the early 14th century. Worship is mainly Eucharistic with Sunday Eucharist at 8 am and 10:45 am. On the second Sunday of the month an All Age Eucharist is held at 10:45 am. Each Wednesday morning at 11.30am there is a said Eucharist. The church is open for Daily Offices Monday - Thursday at 09:00 and 17:00.

Sunday School for Primary School-age children is held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month in St Mary's Parish Centre (adjacent to church) from 10:45 am during term-time only, with the children joining the congregation at the Peace. The children are encouraged to attend All Age Eucharist, 2nd Sunday, with their family.

The choir meets on  Thursday evenings for rehearsals and leads the singing at the 10:15 Eucharist with a mixture of modern and traditional hymns, also singing an anthem at some services. The choir also lead Choral Evensong and occasional weddings or funerals.

The bells are rung for Sunday worship and at some other times also, e.g. for weddings. 

There is an active branch of the Mothers' Union which meets on the third Monday of most months, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm in St Mary's Parish Centre, beside church. Eccleston Belles, an evening group with guests, refreshment and discussion, meets at 19:00 on first Monday of each month. Men's Fellowship meets on the second Tuesday of the month, September through to April.

The parish is fortunate in having its own Church Voluntary Aided Primary School which is just over a mile distant from church. Most children from the parish go on to attend Bishop Rawstorne Academy in Croston, which is also a Church of England Voluntary Aided School.