Holy Family, Southport:

   

In 1859 Father Henry Cooke was appointed Parish Priest to Saint Marie's Catholic Church in Southport. During the following ten years, Southport grew rapidly and Father Cooke instigated the building of the town's second parish, St Joseph's. From its opening in 1867 until his death in 1890, Father Cooke had St Marie's church enlarged and saw the formation of Sacred Heart and Saint Teresa's Parish. He also tried to purchase land for yet another parish church, but died before it could be finalised.

Such was his popularity in Southport, Catholics in the town decided to build a monument to him dedicated to The Holy Family. This would take the form of a school/chapel and provide for the spiritual needs of the growing population of the High Park area of Southport. Within a month of his death, the Scarisbrick Trustees had granted a site for the church and house and the land for the school was purchased too.

The foundation stone was laid on 16th October 1892..........