THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, WREXHAM

The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Wrexham was built as a Parish Church in 1857 at the height of the Gothic Revival. Its architect Edward Welby Pugin 1834 -1875 was the son of the famous Augustus Welby Pugin (1812 -1852). Only 23 years of age when he designed the Church, he took as his inspiration the Early Decorated Style of the 14th century. It is said to have been his best period as an architect.

The founder of the Church was Richard Thompson (1799-1866). Richard with his father, John, and his uncle James, had developed the iron and coal industry in North Wales during the first half of the century. The family came from Wigan, also a coal and iron-producing area, where they owned a couple of ironmongers' shops. The Thompsons were a Catholic family. John's brother, Richard was an eminent priest in Lancashire at the time.

The present church was built to replace an earlier chapel in King Street, still standing and, which by mid-century had become too small for its growing congregation. The cloister and side chapel were a mid 20th century addition to again increase capacity of the Cathedral.

In 1898 the Diocese of Menevia was established with S. Mary's becoming the Pro-cathedral. As Pro-cathedral and latterly the Cathedral it served the people of most of Wales until 1987, when the Welsh Province of the Catholic Church was re-structured. The Diocese of Menevia was re-defined and the Diocese of Wrexham was created with S. Mary's again as the Cathedral church.

On the cloister walls hang the coats of arms of the Bishops of Menevia 1898 to 1981 as well as that of Bishop James Hannigan who was both Bishop of Menevia (1983-1987) and then first Bishop of Wrexham (1987-1994).

In the cloister can be seen a tomb bearing an effigy of a female figure, in memory of Ellen Thompson, Richard's wife, who died of cholera in 1852.

Above the Bishop's throne is a stained glass window representing Our Lady of Sorrows, surrounded by Saints David and Winefride, Patrons of Wales, together with four Archangels and other saints. This window was donated by Mary Ann, Lady Ffrench, daughter of Richard Thompson the founder of the Church. A pair of stained glass windows commemorate Richard and his wife, Ellen, while another commemorates Thomas, Lord Ffrench and his wife, Mary Ann. A window depicting the Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes was placed in the (by then) Pro-cathedral in 1909 to celebrate the priestly silver Jubilee of Bishop Francis Mostyn, Bishop of the Diocese of Menevia 1898-1921. A pair of windows depicting S. Brigid and S. Patrick were placed there in memory of Sister Mary Augustine and Sister Mary Regis. Both were Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a teaching order having a presence in the town since 1879.

Other windows were placed in the Church in memory of prominent Catholic families in the town. The window depicting S. David is in memory of John Beirne, who was Mayor of Wrexham in 1876 and for 32 years organist in the Church. A window portraying the burial of Jesus is fittingly placed over the vault which was the last resting place of Richard and Ellen Thompson.