As a genealogist I like finding out about the parish as it was in the times of my various ancestors, with the first ones being recorded there in 1860. As a result I’ve written a few posts about the early days of Batley St. Mary of the Angels, including the building of the church over a century and a half ago.
This latest post is another description, but the difference is it was written in May 1950, within living memory.
The description reads:
The beautiful church of St. Mary, at Cross Bank, Batley, semi-Gothic in style, is neither massive nor imposing from the outside. There is no great belfry and the church has no imposing turrets. It is just a homely little church which gives the impression that to enter it through the short Galilee, or porch, is to enter a world of peace and quiet. That feeling is still present as the worshippers in turn genuflect before the High Altar. The church itself has a spiritual quality.
St. Mary’s has no aisles, being of the apsidal type. The High Altar is lovely, the frontal mosaic showing two angels adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The altar rails in robed marble, are a memorial to those who lost their lives in the war of 1914-18.
The beauty of the High Altar is enhanced by the two side altars. That to Our Lady of Lourdes is worked in pale blue and the statue is a masterpiece in white marble. The impression of multiple arching is in keeping with the rest of the church. The other altar, in rich red, is dedicated to St. Joseph and the Child Jesus. The church seats about 400 people and is now too small to hold the Sunday morning congregation.1
To really appreciate a church, however, one must be there during a service. At St. Mary’s one could do no better than attend the beautiful service of Benediction with the murmuring voices of the congregation joining in the responses and in the beautiful words of the angel to Our Lady.
One is particularly fortunate to be in church on a special occasion such as as that in May when Our Lady is specially honoured and a procession winds round the church, culminating in the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance into the space provided on the altar, the congregation kneeling for the blessing which accompanied the act.
All Pull Their Weight
Outside the church after the service, one finds the priests to be not just approachable, but friendly and helpful. “I can’t tell you anything about outstanding personalities. You see, we here at St. Mary’s all pull our weight, and it would not be fair to mention just a few names,” said Fr. O’Brien after the service. What he did reveal, however, was the fact that the church is in a really healthy state, and can be proud of its achievements,
First there is the Parish Committee under its chairman, Mr. J. Harkin. This committee runs many social events, and this year is also to organise a pilgrimage to St. Winifred’s Well in Wales. The Operatic Society has lately made a name for itself locally with excellent performances of “Grand Duchess,” “Our Miss Gibbs,” and last month “The Mikado.” The Union of Catholic Mothers, president Mrs. E. Brennan, is a comparatively new but very successful group whose aim is primarily to encourage real Christian family life. It numbers nearly 200 members, and last year an impressive service was held at which Canon Grogan of Huddersfield consecrated the Union. The Mothers run social events, and are to hold a sale of work to decorate the church next Christmas.
Young People’s Organisations
The Young Christian Workers is a youth organisation to encourage the real living of Christ’s teaching in the factory, whose motto might almost be “Christ died for everyone – every young worker as well as every priest, bishop or factory boss.” The Children of Mary and Guild of St. Agnes exists to help young girls who have left school to keep in contact, under the protection of Mary, their mother. The St. Vincent de Paul Society helps those in want and those who have had a run of bad luck.
St. Mary’s have a fine football team, which has had a great run of success this year, winning the “Reporter” Cup (under 18), and being runners-up in the League. The under 16’s won their cup and school cup. The senior captain is Frank Ashton, the under 16’s being captained by Kevin Hughes.
St. Mary’s was first founded in Churchfield Street, then the present-day infants’ school was used as a church until, seventy years ago, the present church was built.2 It was consecrated by Bishop Cowgill of Leeds on September 22nd, 1929. The Parish Hall is one of the finest in the district. It is the centre of all the social activities and sometimes even of religious meetings when the church is being used for services. The school is in good repair and certainly does not qualify for the age-old secular criticism that Church schools are dilapidated. Indeed the boys’ school was paid for by the pennies of the people before it was opened.
“The strength of the Parish is measured, not by numbers in bulk, but by numbers in Church at Mass on Sunday mornings. On that score, the parish is, thank God, healthy,” said Father O’Brien. The priest-in-charge is Father McBride, while the parish is blessed with another indefatigable curate in Father Wood, who was once a missionary.3
This description really does paint a picture of the parish in 1950 and, while there have been huge changes in the decades since it was written, it’s a description which will be familiar to several parishioners today.
For my post about an early history of the Irish in Batley, the building of St Mary of the Angels Church click here.
And for the earliest published account I’ve found about the church and school click here.
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Footnotes:
1. The balcony was added in 1959.
2. This is incorrect – the foundation stone for the church was laid in May 1869, and it was officially opened in December 1870.
3. Batley News, 20 May 1920.
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