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Wigan - A Hopeless Case? |
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On 14th March 1962, Father Richard Tobin, Parish Priest at St. Joseph's, Wigan, sent the following letter to His Grace, George Andrew Beck, Archbishop of Liverpool: |
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ST. JOSEPH'S |
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WIGAN |
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14. 3. 1962 |
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| Your Grace, |
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Having received Your Approval through the building and sites committee subject to a few alterations to the plans submitted we hope to start building the new church within the next two or three months. |
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| I do not know if Your Grace has any suggestion with regard to a patron for this church and, if not, may I suggest one of the following:- |
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St. Jude, the Apostle |
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or |
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Our Lady of the Assumption |
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| Begging Your Grace's blessing and prayers in the undertaking, |
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| Your Obedient servant in Christ |
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| Richard L Tobin |
| On 15th March 1962, His Grace, the Archbishop replied as follows: |
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15th March 1962 |
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| My dear Father Tobin, |
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Many thanks for your letter. I like your suggestion of St. Jude as a patron of the new church. We already have a parish in honour of The Assumption but none, so far as I know, to St. Jude. |
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| I assume that you do not intend to suggest by this title that Wigan is a hopeless case!! |
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| Wishing you every blessing, |
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| I am |
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| Devotedly yours |
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| Archbishop of Liverpool* |
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| Source: Archdiocesan Archives |
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*The letter in the Archives was a copy of the one that was sent and is not signed by the Archbishop. |