Canon Maxwell (left) receives the cheque and a congratulatory handshake from Fr Cowen, with Fr Myerscough looking on. In the background are (from the left) Mr A. McBride (clerical student from St Mary's), Fr Sullivan, Fr Neville and Fr Sheeky.

Parishioners of St Mary's RC Church, Burnley helped their parish priest, the Very Rev. Canon Louis Maxwell, to celebrate his golden jubilee as a priest on Sunday, 25th April 1971, by presenting him with a cheque for £1,000. Canon Maxwell officiated at a Concelebrated Mass with Fr J. Neville, Fr J. Sullivan and Fr J. Myerscough, who are all curates at St Mary's and also officiating at the Mass were two natives of the parish, Fr H. Cowen SMM and Fr J. Sheeky. Five hundred people attended the Mass, and afterwards 200 of them crowded into the canteen for the presentation and concert. Among guests were Canon Maxwell's two sisters, brother-in-law, niece and nephew, who had travelled from Timperley, Cheshire for the occasion. The cheque was handed over to Canon Maxwell on behalf of the parish by Fr Cowen. Canon Maxwell reminisced about his early days in Burnley, and thanked the people for their kindness to him over the years. Entertainment at the concert was provided by members of St Mary's, and there was a buffet supper.

St Mary's was Canon Maxwell's first parish as a curate. He stayed there for one year, before going to St Joseph's Church, Blackburn in 1922. In 1938, he moved to the parish of St James-the-Less in Rawtenstall, where he stayed for four years. Up to 1954 he was parish priest in Manchester at the Sacred Heart Church, Gorton, and St Dunstan's Church Moston, and then moved back to Burnley as parish priest at St Mary's. At the same time he was made Rural Dean, and in 1957 he was made a canon of the Salford Chapter.