Sacred Heart and St William Catholic Church
Uppermill, Saddleworth
Our Church is a sacred space and everyone is welcome here to look around, to have some quiet time, to pray on their own, to join us in our services and liturgical celebrations.
In the Catholic Tradition we believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist under the forms of bread and wine. In the Sacred Heart church the ‘Blessed Sacrament’ is kept in the Tabernacle, on the sanctuary wall behind the altar and covered by two small curtains. A lit candle in a red holder close to either side of the altar tells us that there are consecrated hosts (the Blessed Sacrament) in the Tabernacle. It is customary to acknowledge this by genuflecting or bowing in the direction of the Tabernacle.
There is a Crucifix above the Tabernacle reminding us of Christ’s sacrificial love for us by his death on the cross and his glorious Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. On the left hand side of the altar as you face it is the Lectern from which the Word of God is proclaimed and the homily given. To the right of the altar is the Processional Cross.
The Baptismal Font is at the front as is the Paschal (Easter) Candle used at Baptisms and Funerals.
The statue of the Sacred Heart is on the left of the sanctuary and the statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus is to the right. The Pieta, is on the right hand side half way down the church.
Around the two sides of the church are the 14 Stations of the Cross telling the story of Jesus’ journey to Calvary from his condemnation by Pilate to his burial in the tomb.
The stained glass windows at the sides of the church depict different scenes from Jesus’ life. Above the gallery at the rear of the church is a rose window featuring Jesus Christ and the Angels. The newest window, designed by a parishioner and called Our Lady of Saddleworth is in the centre of the back window.
The Confessional, for the celebration of individual sacramental confession/reconciliation is at the back of the church on the left hand side. Today the emphasis is on reconciliation with God and the Sacrament is celebrated both within the confessional or face to face with a priest.
