St Cuthbert Mayne Church in Launceston is the National Shrine of St Cuthbert Mayne and has long been a place of pilgrimage for Catholics.  

Canon Charles Baskerville Langdon founded the Catholic community in Launceston in 1886. Initially worshipping in the sitting room of the current presbytery a smaller chapel was built the following year to accommodate the growing congregation. 

However, by 1908 a permanent house of prayer was needed and on the 29th November 1910 the first stone of our grade II* listed church was laid.

The Chapel and Shrine of St Cuthbert Mayne was furnished in 1921, and the altar containing a relic of the saint was consecrated by Bishop John Keily of Plymouth on 29th November 1922. Facing you as you enter is a statue of the first Christian martyr, St Stephen. The statue above the altar is of St Cuthbert Mayne with a noose around his neck.

In 1935 Bishop Barrett dedicated the church to the newly-canonised St John Fisher and St Thomas More, and to the Blessed English Martyrs. In 1970 Pope Paul VI canonised the forty English martyrs, including Cuthbert Mayne, and the church was rededicated to St Cuthbert Mayne in 1977 and became the national shrine.

The first Diocesan Pilgrimage to Launceston took place on Sunday 26th June 1921. About seven hundred pilgrims came from many parts of the Diocese of Plymouth to witness publically to their Faith, to honour and give thanks for the life of Blessed Cuthbert Mayne, and to pray that he would one day be declared a Saint. He was martyred for the Faith in Launceston Town Square in 1577.

The heyday of the pilgrimage was the time leading up to the canonisation in 1970 of our Forty Martyrs, which included St. Cuthbert. In the early 90s some important changes were taking place in the pilgrimage at Launceston. The older format of a procession through the town with St. Cuthbert’s major relic finishing with Mass on the Castle Green (in the past, Mass had been in the field near our church) was changing. The Anglicans and Methodists of Launceston became involved: we used some of their churches as a part of the pilgrimage walk. St. Cuthbert’s major relic was placed in our church and venerated there as a part of the walk through town. 

You can find the old town pilgrimage route here

In later years the pilgrimage became a smaller event, however 2025 was the Jubilee Year "Pilgrims of Hope" and Launceston was a Diocese place of pilgrimage.  There were hundreds of visitor throughtout the year including a large number of coach trip.  2027 will be the 450th Anniversiary of St Cuthbert Mayne and a large pilgrimage and celebration will be taking place on Sunday 16th May 2027.

Planning a visit to our Church?

If you are visiting St Cuthbert Mayne Church as a community group or school, we recommend you contacting the office

to let us know.

Please check the opening and Mass/service times on the website before your visit.  

Request a mass intention if you would like a mass offered for your group.

Request  a tour of St Cuthbert Mayne Church.

 A particularly good day is Thursday as the "Thursday Welcome Club" runs every Thursday morning in the church hall after Mass (9:30am - 12noon) with free refreshments and a warm welcome. 

Please note: The Church will be open during Mass times (shown on our homepage) and when the office is open (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30am - 2:30pm).  Fr Jude will always try to have the Church open when he is on site, but this can not be guaranteed outside Mass and Office times.   However, if you would like to visit outside these times  please let us know we will endeavour to accommodate you.