These are the history pieces which appeared in the Batley St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick’s bulletin during August 2024. As the parishes are jointly administered and a single bulletin produced, the history pieces are not solely focused on St Mary of the Angels.
I have published a more in-depth piece about Robert Randerson, and this is signposted in the 10/11 August 2024 section.
3/4 August 2024
As announced in the 5 August 1944 edition of the Batley News, St Mary’s schoolboys Andrew Carney, Michael Halloran, Stanley Moyser, Barry Oram, Donald Procter, James Hopkin, Edward Donahoe, Robert Dewhirst, Victor Halloran, Frank Halloran, Maurice Foley, John Movley, Peter Armstead and Peter Gallagher all passed the Royal Life Saving Society’s Elementary Certificate at Batley Baths. Mr. Anderson of Dewsbury, formerly Batley Baths instructor, and Mr. Walsh, a St Mary’s school teacher, were the examiners.
10/11 August 2024
News reached the parish this week that on 7 August 1915 Captain Robert Randerson, of the 6th (Service) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment), was killed in action in Gallipoli. Before joining the Leeds University Officer Training Corps in August 1914, he had been a schoolmaster at the St Mary’s Boys Department, and choirmaster at St Mary’s church. An excellent sportsman, he took part in athletics trials in 1912 for selection for the Stockholm Olympics, being eliminated at the semi-final stage in the 100 yards flat race. He also played rugby league on the wing for Batley. He was the first rugby league player to be commissioned as an officer in the First World War, his appointment as a 2nd Lieutenant being announced in the London Gazette of 25 August 1914.
For more about Robert Randerson click here.
17/18 August 2024
This coming week in 1944 it was hoped that St Mary’s parishioners James and Elizabeth Smith would be able to meet their daughter Ellen, now Sister Romaine of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Born in 1913 and baptized at St Mary’s, it would be her first time Sister Romaine would see her home in 10 years, having lived in Belgium and France since 1934. She was amongst the British civilians who had been detained in German-occupied France, spending four years interned in the Vosges region of France.
23/24 August 2024
On Saturday 24 August 1940 the marriage of Private John Doyle and Miss Mary Render was celebrated at St Patrick’s Church. The bride, given away by her cousin Thomas Redgewick, wore a blue dress with hat and shoes to tone, and carried pink roses and white heather. Her sister, Sally Render, and the bridegroom’s cousin, Ellen Doyle, wore green dresses with brown accessories and carried bronze chrysanthemums. John’s brother, Leo Doyle, was best man. His cousin, Leslie Hargreaves, was the groomsman. A breakfast was held at the home of the bridegroom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Doyle. Later 60 guests attended a reception in James Hall, Birstall. Mary worked in the combing department at Messrs. Thos. Burnley and Sons’ Gomersal Mills, where before enlisting John was also employed. They received a case of cutlery and clock from their work-friends. The bridegroom’s present to his bride was a gold cross and chain, and she gave him a cigarette lighter.
31 August/1 September 2024
The end of August/beginning of September 1905 marked a new chapter in the history of both St Mary’s and St Patrick’s parishes. St Mary’s curate Father Peter Russell was appointed as the first parish priest at the newly established parish of St Patrick’s, and as a result was said to be the youngest parish priest in England. He remained parish priest at St Patrick’s until 1931. Father Peter McBride came to St Mary’s to take up the vacated curate position, assisting parish priest Father John Joseph Lea. Father McBride was to serve at St Mary’s for the next 46 years.
Past To Present Genealogy 