It is a Gothic Revival church and is a Grade II listed building.

[3] In the 1820s, to serve the local Catholic congregation in Oldham, a priest came from St Augustine's Church in Manchester and set up a mission in the town.

In 1829, with the increasing size of the congregation, a former Unitarian chapel on Lord Street was leased by Fr James Fisher.

Fr Conway bought an existing chapel on Foundry Street to say Mass in the centre of the town.

That year, plans were made by a Fr Brindle for a larger church to accommodate the increasing size of the congregation.

The site of the church on Union Street was given by John Lees Ainsworth.

[3] On 28 March 1869, the foundation stone of St Patrick's Church was laid.