These are the history pieces which appeared in the Batley St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick’s bulletin during April 2025. As the parishes are jointly administered and a single bulletin produced, the history pieces are not solely focused on St Mary of the Angels, although St Patrick’s was not formed as s separate parish until 1905. Prior to that it was part of St Mary’s.
05/06 April 2025
On Easter Monday (5 April) 1925 the Birstall Irish Democratic League hosted a dance at Clarence Hall to the sounds of Brown’s Orchestra with over 200 attendees, who also enjoyed light refreshments. Mr. P McVeigh and Mr. J. Casey were in charge.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
12/13 April 2025
On Sunday 16 April 1950 St. Mary’s Amateur Operatic Society put on an excellent production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”. A lack of polish in the performance was more than made up by the cast’s enthusiasm. Star of the show was Rita Kelly as Yum-Yum, excellently supported by Jean Gooder and Moira Kelly as her two sisters Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo. James Harkin (Nanki-Poo) and Cyril Love (the Mikado), stage debutants, came through with flying colours. James Prendergast played Pooh-Ba with delightful pomposity, and Leonard Moore provided humour in his role of Ko-Ko. Kathleen Munns (Katisha) and Robert Munns (Pish-Tush) gave fine support. The chorus singing was described as tip-top under Fr. J. Wood’s energetic conductorship. They included Misses M. Brennan, E. Gallagher, D. Heaps, R. Harkin, S. Judge, D. Riley, J. Senior, P. Lumb, K. Lyons, M. Travis and Messrs. Gerard and Kevin Hill, J. Breslin, N. Riley, B Talbot, and P Senior.Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
19/20 April 2025
During this week in 1953 it was announced that former St. Mary’s schoolboy and current Wilton Trinity second-row forward Peter Armstead, 18, had been chosen to play with the England Amateur open-age side in France at the beginning of May. Peter, who stood at 6 foot and weighed about 13 stone, was serving with the RAF. He previously played with the St. Mary’s under-16 and under-18 sides. It was whilst at St. Mary’s school that he was presented with a cup by the Local Amateur League for kicking 17 goals out of 17 attempts – a record for the district. Later in 1953 he signed for Wakefield Trinity. Another 18-year-old St. Mary’s lad, Shaw Cross player Austin Kilroy, was chosen for the shadow England Amateur side. He signed for Batley later in 1953.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
26/27 April 2025
On the afternoon of Friday 27 April 1923, the Very Rev. John Joseph Lea (60) collapsed and died whilst trimming the presbytery garden with a pair of shears. His body was found by curate, Fr. Peter McBride. Having undergone surgery around three months earlier, it was concluded the exertion of gardening so soon after this operation had placed too much strain on his heart and caused his death. Born in Dublin, he came to St. Mary’s as a curate in 1899, being appointed parish priest in 1902. It was he who oversaw the creation of the separate parish of Birstall St Patrick’s in 1905. His funeral on 30 April was one of the largest seen in Batley for years. So great were the numbers, the church could not accommodate all those who turned out for his Requiem Mass. After his death some newspapers reported he never took a salary whilst at St Mary’s.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
Past To Present Genealogy 