"St Cuthbert's Church - Celebrating the Last 175 Years" Exhibition

Lytham Heritage Group Press Release 2 December 2009

St Cuthbert's Church one of the oldest churches on the Fylde Coast, celebrates its 175th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations the church has arranged an exhibition of various artefacts and items of interest, highlighting the past, present and future. The exhibition is on display at Lytham Heritage Centre from 1 December to 13 December 2009.

Pictures by John McVitie  www.johnmcvitie.com   

The opening event was attended by a number of local dignitaries including the Mayor of Fylde, Councillor Paul Rigby; the Mayoress, Margaret Rigby; the Deputy Mayor of Fylde, Councillor Patricia Fieldhouse; the Deputy Mayoress, Katie Fieldhouse; the Vicar of St Cuthbert's Church , Canon Andrew Clitherow; Lord of the Manor, James Hilton; his wife, Penelope and Lytham Rose Queen Katie Ritchie.

Pictures by John McVitie  www.johnmcvitie.com     

Although St Cuthbert’s is celebrating its 175^th anniversary, this is only a fraction of the time that there has been a church on the present site. There have been several St Cuthbert’s Churches in the vicinity. The ‘Priory Charter of Lytham’ 1387 indicates there was a parish church before 1190. This would have been a modest building used when the Benedictine Cell was founded in Lytham. It was demolished in the 16^th Century. Its successor was demolished in the 18^th Century, and the next building made way for the current church in 1834.

Pictures by John McVitie  www.johnmcvitie.com      

Below is a series of photographs of the exhibition: