Sisters’ Home in connection with Parish Church, Wigan

WIGAN —A new home for the Sisters in connexion with the Parish Church of All Saints, Wigan, was opened on Tuesday last by the Dean of Lincoln. The home is a large one, in the Elizabethan style of architecture, with upper portion of oak half-timber. The entrance porch is also in oak. The oratory is fitted up with stalls, etc., as a private chapel. The architects are Messrs. Heaton & Ralph, Wigan, the builder being Mr. C. B. Holmes, Wigan. The whole has been carried out by the architects to the instructions of Canon G. T. O. Bridgeman, Rector of Wigan. [The Builder 23 September 1893 page 230]

The Community of St Mary the Virgin Sisters (CSMV), known locally as The Wantage Sisters, were present in Wigan from 1887 to 1954. They lived and worked at All Saints Mission House, 1a New Market Street which became The Tudor Lodge after they left.  The order of nuns is still in existence today, based in Wantage in Oxfordshire. In 1893, the new purpose built All Saints Mission House was constructed, Miss Anson of Catton Hall laying the foundation stone.  The building cost about £1,800 and was designed by Wigan architects, Heaton and Ralph. The Sisters were withdrawn from Wigan in 1954 and after repair and renovation the Mission House opened as a parish hall and meeting place in 1957.

The building subsequently became the Tudor House Hotel which closed in 2014.

Reference           The Builder 23 September 1893 page 230