These are the history pieces which appeared in the Batley St Mary of the Angels and Birstall St Patrick’s bulletin during September 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.
As part of the St Mary of the Angels One-Place Study I have written in more detail about some of these events, and where this is the case the link to the fuller piece is included.
06/07 September 2025
At the beginning of September 1947, former St. Mary’s parishioner Elizabeth Ann Moss (née Lyons) visited relatives in Batley, staying with her brother-in-law Thomas Kilroy at Cobden Street. He was the widower of her sister Catherine, and she was able to bring him news of three of his children, Mary Agnes, Teresa, and James, who lived near her in Providence, Rhode Island, where she said they formed “quite a little colony of Batleyites.” The sister of former Batley rugby player Jimmy Lyons, Elizabeth Ann had emigrated to America in 1904, and this was her first visit to Batley since 1912. She was amazed at the differences in town stating “Batley has changed tremendously and my, how Commercial Street has improved”. This was the era of ocean travel, and she sailed to England on the Mauretania, returning to the U.S. in October 1947 on board the Queen Elizabeth.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
13/14 September 2025
This week in 1932 St. Patrick’s parishioner, 17-year-old James O’Higgins, left Birstall to study for the priesthood, under the care of the Jesuits at Manresa House, Roehampton, London. He was the son of Tom O’Higgins, a member of St. Patrick’s parochial council, and Ellen (née Ryan), a former teacher at both St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s schools. Academically gifted, James was a pupil at St. Patrick’s for only two years before moving to a boarding school at Boston Spa, and then St. Michael’s College, Leeds. When only 12 he lectured the schoolchildren of St. Patrick’s on astronomy, and he was a frequent contributor to local papers on theological topics. After graduating from Oxford University, and studying at the Jesuit training establishment at Heythrop College, Chipping Norton, he spent time as history master at the Jesuit-run Corby School, Sunderland, before being ordained at St. Francis Xavier Church, Liverpool on 14 September 1947.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
20/21 September 2025
To packed houses, between 18 and 25 September 1949, Batley St. Mary’s Amateur Operatic Society put on their first production of the season, a comedy named “Peg O’ My Heart.” Kathleen Sheridan, in her first leading role, was star of the show as Peg. She was partnered by James L. Kelly as Jerry, whose voice was described as well-toned and a great asset. John Spencer’s portrayal of Alaric Chichester was the comedy highlight. Rita Kelly confidently played the snobbish Mrs. Chichester. Others who had acting roles were Marie Judge, Anthony Corley, Leonard Moore, James McVeigh and Rita Harkin. Behind the scenes were Charles Shiel, Joseph Halloran, Mrs. B. Moore, Bernard Talbot, Thomas Brennan, Mrs. T. Brennan, Peter Sheridan and James Lyons. Much of the credit for the success of the show was down to its director and producer Mr. Anthony T. Farrar, in his final production before he went to take up religious work.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
27/28 September 2025
The second annual St. Mary’s Torchlight Procession took place on Monday, 29 September 1952. A cold, dismal night with spells of heavy drizzle, the weather did not dampen spirits. Described as a mammoth spectacle, it eclipsed the previous year’s inaugural event, with between 6,000 and 7,000 taking part in the procession, compared to 4,000 participants in 1951. Thousands more lined the route. Many brought their torches from the previous year, and the church issued 3,000 new torches to supplement them. The event’s three-fold purpose was to pray for lasting peace throughout the world, for peace during the reign of the new sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, and for peace for all the families of Batley. After leaving Cross Bank the procession, headed by the Ravensthorpe Prize Band, led by cross bearer Mr. Tom Brennan and white-surpliced altar boys, and escorted by police, made its way to the Market Place, where some of the elderly and infirm had waited in the seated area for over one hour for the procession’s arrival. Father Lawrence Gallon gave the address, with the celebrant of Benediction being Father J. Moloney of Birstall, assisted by Father P. Creed, and Father D. Monaghan.
For more details about the first torchlight procession click here.
For more details about the second torchlight procession click here.
Jane Roberts – Parish Historian, Website: https://pasttopresentgenealogy.co.uk
Past To Present Genealogy 