Start: St John the Evangelist, Ribby Road, Kirkham

Finish: St Michaels Church Church Street, Kirkham

 Fact file: Distance: 8 k 5 miles
                  Time:  2 - 3   hours
                 Summary:  Flat. The route crosses several arable fields and although there may be serious patches of mud to negotiate at least there are no growing crops to avoid.
               Maps: OS Explorer 286 Blackpool and Preston

Directions: At first glance Pugin’s design may seem unremarkable – St John the Evangelist while handsome and imposing looks like many other churches.

And yet that is the bold statement that is being made. Catholicism had been suppressed since Tudor times and it was only in the early 19th century that most of the restrictions were finally removed. Until then catholic churches in Britain were rather understated buildings so when the new church was opened in 1846 it was an assertion of faith. It is said that when the bells were peeled in the tower it was the first time since the Reformation they had been heard from a catholic church.
Walk along Ribby Road towards the town centre.  Turn left into Station Road.

Pass the station

and then turn right into Derby Road. After the entrance to the hospital

cross parkland on the right

 to join Park Lane.

Follow Park Lane to its junction with Mowbreck Lane.

Turn right and then after 50 metres turn left over a stile onto a footpath

 leading across an arable field. The route now crosses a succession of fields

 heading towards the M55 on well way marked footpaths. 

Close to Moat Wood it joins a farm drive.

 Turn right and then pick up a footpath on a bend.

Keep ahead towards the motorway. As you approach within 100 metres of it

turn left and then with a stretch of hedgerow to your right walk to a footbridge

over Medlar Brook. After crossing this keep ahead to a stile leading into the yard of a white cottage.

Turn right onto Fleetwood Road.

Taking care cross the motorway

to the right of the roundabout and on the far side on the entry ramp eastbound take the path

that leads steeply down a flight of steps. Follow the footpath as it takes a parallel course to the motorway eastwards.

You may be depressed by the constant roar of traffic. Even more depressing is the sight of so much litter on the grass verge carelessly disgorged from vehicles. After 700 metres turn right onto a farm track

that leads over a bridge. On the far side turn left down a flight of steps

and cross the field to a stile.

 Cross this and turn right. There now follows a succession of fields taking you back towards Kirkham. 

Again the footpath is well waymarked and is punctuated by a number of stiles.

  In a huge field pass to the left of a large pond

 and drop slightly to a wooden stile in a fence

 and then follow the fence to a farm track.

Cross this into a patch of woodland and then when you reach Mowbreck Lane turn right and then left onto a footpath

that edges around a caravan park. After crossing a metal bridge

  bear right and then left to reach kissing gate.

 Continue with the fence on your left. Soon Kirkham comes into sight

and the church of St Michaels will guide you under the railway

and into the town itself.
It will not have escaped your notice that the church of St Michaels is as much a Gothic Revival statement as St John’s at the Willows. The buildings are almost contemporary. Past the church turn right onto a pathway

 taking you past the cenotaph and to the rear of Morrisons. Through its car park onto Poulton Street you’ll soon notice another imposing church this one United Reform in a style reminiscent of the Anglican and catholic churches. This demonstrates how appropriately named KIRKham is!