St Roch's Catholic Church

Image: © Richard Sutcliffe Taken: 23 Aug 2019

St Roch’s Church and Primary School across the road https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6249060 were built in 1907. According to the church's website, 'St Roch was born around 1295 in Montpellier, southern France. Like St Francis of Assisi, he gave away all his possessions to become a pilgrim for Christ. On his way to Rome he gave himself to the care of the sick and the victims of the plague, but eventually he himself contracted the plague (signified on his statue by the wound on his leg.) He retreated to a forest and a dog belonging to a St Gothard would come to him bringing food from its master’s table. He survived the disease. On returning to Montpellier he was not recognised, suspected of being a spy, thrown into prison and died at the age of 32. Only after his death was he recognised. Devotion spread rapidly. Today there are festivals established in many towns and villages in Northern Spain, France and Italy during the week of 16th August, his feast day.'

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0