Families of Parishes Walk:

Prescot Family

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Our latest Families of Parishes pilgrimage walk takes us to Knowsley and to the
Prescot family. This family consists of four churches, stretching from Portico on the outskirts of St Helens through to Whiston, where the walk will end.

Total Time: 1hr 24 minutes
Total Distance: 3.8 miles

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Start: Our Lady Help of Christians, Portico

To start this walk, go to the picturesque little church of Our Lady Help of Christians in Portico. Located just outside St Helens, this church has stood in its location for over 230 years, so a lot of history has happened there. It saw St Helens through the industrial revolution, and it even predates the town’s rugby league team by 100 years! 

These days, it is under the pastoral care of Fr Andrew Rowlands, who is also the Dean of Knowsley and parish priest at St Michael and All Angels in Kirkby. If you would like to begin your pilgrimage with Mass, there are two options: Saturday at 5.30pm and Sunday at 11am. Start by praying for your intentions before you set off. 

Stop 1: Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph, Prescot 

The first leg of this walk sees you follow St Helens Road all the way to Prescot Town Centre, where you will find the church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph. Currently under the pastoral care of Fr Dominic Risley, this is another historic parish, with the mission being established back in 1848 – it’s 180th anniversary is coming up! Have a rest here and give yourself a moment to reflect on the history of this parish and your progress so far. 

Time: 32 minutes

Distance: 1.4 miles 

Stop 2: St Luke the Evangelist, Whiston 

The second stop on this journey takes you out of the centre of Prescot and along to Whiston, and to the Church of St Luke the Evangelist. This is one of the newer churches, with the mission first being established in 1937. The church survived the Second World War and remains a thriving community to this day. These days, Fr Michael Thompson is the parish priest, with Dcn Joe Morgan also serving there for the last 10 years. It is a stone’s throw away from Whiston Hospital, so take a moment to pray for those in the hospital – the patients, the staff, the nurses, and the families of those who are sick. 

Time: 22 minutes

Distance: 1 mile 

Stop 3: St Leo, Whiston 

The final stop on this walk is to St Leo’s, which became part of the parish of St Luke the Evangelist in 2022. This leg will take you into the heart of Whiston, past the train station and towards the church. There is a lot of green space around, making it an ideal place to end your walk, and take time for reflection, as you complete another Families of Parishes Walk. 

Time: 29 minutes

Distance: 1.4 miles