The church’s First World War Memorial is located behind the marble Communion Rails. It consists of a panel which states the Rails were erected to the memory of the men in the parish who died in the war. There are a further 11 panels containing the names of 76 men of the parish who gave their lives.
As yet I have not discovered the date for completion of the War Memorial. I did wonder if it dated from the time of the installation of the High Altar, officially unveiled when the church was consecrated on 21 September 1929. Checking the newspaper accounts though, there is no mention of it.
However, as the High Altar, (and later mosaics of the Annunciation, the Natitivy, the Assumption and the Coronation of Our Lady in the sanctuary behind it), are integral to the church and the beautiful backdrop to services there, I thought it only fitting to publish one of the newspaper accounts about this important event in parish history:
ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
CONSECRATION SERVICE.The St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Batley, was consecrated on Saturday last by the Bishop of Leeds (Dr. Cowgill), and for the information of those who are non-Catholics it is necessary to point out that it is one of the conditions of the Catholic faith that a church must be absolutely free from debt before it can be consecrated. St. Mary’s Church was built in 1870, and, a new Presbytery was occupied in the early part of the present year. The church was consecrated on Saturday as stated, by Dr. Cowgill, who was accompanied by Mgr. Hawkswell (the Bishop’s secretary), the Rev. Father McBride (who has been the priest-in-charge of St. Mary’s for six years, having been associated with the church for 24 years), Father Kelleher, Father Russell (Birstall), Father Stack (Beeston), and Father Holohan (Brighouse). There was a large congregation.
On Sunday, the Bishop pontificated Solemn High Mass, and also gave the Benediction, Father McBride being the assistant priest at the High Mass. Special sermons were preached on Sunday by the Rev. Father Hegarty, V.G.,1 of Makhera, County Derry, which is the native parish of Father McBride.
After the evening service, the Bishop held a reception, and on behalf of the congregation little Nellie Breslin presented the address and welcome.
Councillor J. Deasy, J.P., who presided, mentioned with pride the work that had been done in connection with the church, making special reference to the new altar erected, through the efforts of a committee, to the more of the late Dean Lea, the sum of £1,100 having been raised for that object in eight months.
Mr. T. Durkin spoke on behalf of the congregation.
Father McBride and Father Russell spoke on behalf of the clergy.
The Bishop congratulated the clergy and congregation upon their work of freeing the church from debt; complimented the school children upon their singing of t he Gregorian music of the Mass; and Miss Scanlan, who had trained the children.
The new High Altar to the memory of the late Dean Lea was consecrated. The altar is of marble and mosaic and contains a panel in gold mosaic representing the Blessed Sacrament. There are eight panels on the reredos of the altar, the panels being in gold mosaic symbolising the Blessed Sacrament. The Sanctuary has been laid in mosaic, and inlaid with the inscription in gold mosaic, “I.H.S.” The work in connection with the altar has cost nearly £1,000, and has been carried out by Messrs. Earley and Co., Dublin.
The gifts from the congregation include a gold monstrance, gold chalice, solid brass crucifix 4ft. high, brass Processional Cross, and brass missal stand, these being in the Celtic design, the work of Messrs. Gunning, of Dublin. There are also two brass Sanctuary lamps, the gifts of the Children of Mary and the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, which are also in the Celtic design. Carved oak stalls for the Sanctuary are the gift of the Young Men’s Society.
The church has been re-decorated by Messrs. Corbishley, of Preston, and the new Presbytery and Sacristy linked up by a cloister have been erected at a cost of nearly £5,000, the architect being Mr. C. F. Fox, of Dewsbury.2
Footnotes:
1. Vicar General.
2. Batley Reporter, 28 September 1929.
Past To Present Genealogy 