St. Francis of Assisi, Acklam

The Church of
ST. FRANCIS of ASSISI
 Acklam, Middlesbrough.

St Francis church was built circa 1934 to provide for the catholic community of the expanding areas of the west of Linthorpe, Acklam and Whinney Banks, The parish area originally covered the whole of Acklam, through Brookfield and up to Hemlington. St Clare's and the "new" Cathedral stand in that part of the original parish area which for most of the 3Q's, 40's and 50's was mainly arable area. With the residential development of Acklam (South) and Brookfield, St Clare's church was built and established in 1967 to ease the tremendous congregation pressure that was being felt at St. Francis (then with a Parish Priest assisted by two curates celebrating at least 4 Masses every Sunday plus Masses at Hemlington hospital). Currently, the pressures of congregation are not so great but, nevertheless, sufficient to warrant daily-Masses and two Sunday Masses. This, even though the Whinney Banks area is depopulated. There can be an expectancy of some congregation increase when this area is re-built (Acklam Green), refurbished and repopulated.

St Francis of Assisi, Acklam is, of course, a member of the diocese of Middlesbrough : The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough consists of the boroughs of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees (south of the river), the cities of Kingston upon Hull and York, East Yorkshire and most of North Yorkshire. For further information on the diocese visit:

www.dioceseofmiddlesbrough.co.uk

a 1930's picture of the church

The Parish of
St. Francis of Assisi,
  Acklam, Middlesbrough.

There are a variety of parish support, evangelical and social activity groups within the parish - see web page Parish Information > Parish Activities - for details.

Its geographic area includes a number of residential/nursing homes and the convent house of the Faithful Companions of Jesus order.  (www.fcjsisters.org/)
An independent but mutually supporting social club, St Francis Social Club, is established with its own premises at the rear of the church presbytery.
All of these things result in an active, parishioner participating parish.