Mount St Mary's Church, Leeds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount St Mary's Church |
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| Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary | |
East side of the church
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| OS grid reference | SE3130433169 |
| Location | Richmond Hill, Leeds |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Closed |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Founder(s) | Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Dedicated | 29 July 1857 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 5 August 1976 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Hansom Edward Pugin |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 24 May 1853 |
| Completed | 13 September 1866 |
| Construction cost | £8,000 |
| Closed | June 1989 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 165 ft (50 m) |
| Width | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Nave width | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Height | 85 ft (26 m) |
Mount St Mary's Church, also known as the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, is a very old and important church building in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a Roman Catholic church that is no longer used for services. The church was started in 1851 and designed by Joseph Hansom, with more parts added later by Edward Pugin. It stands right next to Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, Leeds.
Contents
History of Mount St Mary's Church
Building the Church
In 1851, a group called the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate came to Leeds. They wanted to start a new church for the local Catholic community. Many Irish people had moved to the east side of Leeds, especially after the Great Irish Famine. There wasn't a church for them in the Richmond Hill area.
The first priest, Fr. Crowe OMI, worked hard to raise money to buy land for the church. People sometimes called it the 'Famine Church'. This was because it was built when the Irish population was recovering from the famine. It gave people hope after a very difficult time.
On May 24, 1853, the first stone of the church was laid by Bishop John Briggs. The main architect was Joseph Hansom. He also designed other famous churches like Plymouth Cathedral. These churches, including Mount St Mary's, were built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like the grand churches from the Middle Ages.
In the same year, Mount Saint Mary's School was started next door. Nuns from the Sisters Oblates of Mary Immaculate taught there. They also used the church for their prayers.
Opening and Completion
The church was officially opened on July 29, 1857, by Bishop Briggs. It was a very special event! Important church leaders like Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman and Henry Manning were there. Even Eugène de Mazenod, who founded the Oblates and later became a saint, attended. They walked through the streets of Leeds before having a special Mass in the church.
At first, only the main part of the church (the nave) and the side aisles were finished. The back part (chancel) and the side arms (transepts) were designed by Edward Pugin. He worked with Joseph Hansom for a short time. The entire church was finally completed and opened on September 13, 1866. Cardinal Manning led the ceremony this time.
People wanted to build a tall tower for the church, as planned in the original designs. They started collecting money in 1916, but the First World War made it impossible. So, the tower was never built.
Church Repairs and Discoveries
Mount St Mary's Church is on Richmond Hill, which means it gets hit by strong winds. It needed repairs in 1894 and 1962 because of storm damage. The church was also renovated several times between the 1930s and 1950s, and again from 1980 to 1981.
In 1953, during some renovation work, an old coal mine was found right under the church! There was even a mine shaft that could be reached from the church's sacristy (a room where priests prepare). This shaft had been blocked off when the church was first built. Leeds City Council didn't have records of this mine, but it confirmed what some local people had suspected. A study in 2007 found that there were actually several mines at different levels, dating from the late 1600s to 1877.
Changes in the Community
From 1935 to 1950, many people living near the church moved to new homes in the Osmondthorpe area of Leeds. This meant the number of people attending Mount St Mary's church dropped a lot. Before the Second World War, the church's community went from 6,000 people to 3,000. After the war, it was only 1,100 people. By 1979, there were only 790 people left in the church's community.
In 1953, the orphanage that the nuns had run since 1853 closed down. Over 3,000 children had lived there during its time.
Modern Changes and Partnerships
After the Second Vatican Council in 1964, the church started using a new English version of its services. This began on April 11, 1965. In 1971, a new altar was added so the priest could face the people during Mass. A parish council, which helps run the church, was started in 1978.
On November 30, 1986, Mount St Mary's Church and the nearby Anglican church, St Saviour's, made a special agreement. They promised to 'Witness and Work Together'. This agreement was signed by David Konstant, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds, and David Young, the Anglican Bishop of Ripon.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
Mount St Mary's Church is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture from the 1800s. It has red brick walls and a very steep roof made of slate. This is similar to other churches designed by Joseph Hansom, like St Walburge Church and Plymouth Cathedral.
The church has a tall main section (nave) and a rounded back part (chancel). It faces east and has two side arms (transepts) to the north and south. Each transept has a round "rose window" above three smaller, pointed windows.
You can see decorative carvings above the windows and around the rounded back of the church. These include Greek crosses. The large window at the front (west window) is also very fancy with geometric patterns. Below it is an arched doorway. The windows also have special stone frames called hood moulds to stop rain from hitting the walls below.
Inside the Church
Inside, there is a wide central aisle and two narrower aisles on either side. Tall columns line the main aisle, supporting pointed Gothic arches. There are six columns from the back of the church to the chancel. From there, seven steps lead up to the sanctuary, which is the most sacred part of the church.
The altar is made of marble, but sadly, its top has been broken since the church closed. Around the altar, there are three sculptures carved into the wall. The middle one shows angels. The one on the north side shows church leaders and saints. The one on the south side shows kings and queens. They are all kneeling towards a symbol of the Blessed Sacrament, which is being crowned by angels.
In the north aisle, you can still see the confessionals, which are small rooms used for confession. The floor in the main part of the church is wooden, while the floor in the sanctuary is tiled. Some of the beautiful stained-glass windows are still there because they have protective screens. These windows were made by a company called Hardman & Co..
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North transept
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View from the sanctuary
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Sanctuary
Related Churches and Closure
Corpus Christi Church
To serve the Catholic community that moved to Osmondthorpe, a new church called Corpus Christi Church was built. It was like a "daughter" church of Mount St Mary's. The Oblates also looked after this church. It was first a wooden building, but it burned down in the early 1950s. A new, permanent church was built and opened in 1962.
The Oblates continued to serve Corpus Christi Church until 2008. Then, they handed it over to the Diocese of Leeds, which still manages it today. In 2011, Corpus Christi Church joined with two other churches, St Theresa of the Child Jesus in Cross Gates and St Gregory the Great in Swarcliffe. Together, they became part of the Parish of Blessed John Henry Newman.
Why the Church Closed
Over time, fewer people lived in the area around Mount St Mary's Church. Also, the cost of keeping the large church building in good repair became very high. It was estimated that fixing the church would cost about £1.5 million. This was too much money for a church with a small community.
So, in June 1989, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate decided to leave the parish. The church was then "deconsecrated," meaning it was no longer officially a church. The Oblates and the Diocese of Leeds tried to sell the church, hoping it could still be used for something good in the community. In 1996, it was sold to a housing group called Sanctuary Housing Trust for a very small amount of money. Since then, the church has remained empty. You can see scaffolding around it, which means only basic repairs have been done to keep the building safe.
The Victorian Society, a group that protects historic buildings, has said that Mount St Mary's Church is a heritage building that is at risk of falling apart.
See also
- Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, Leeds
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- Diocese of Leeds
- Grade II* listed buildings in Leeds
- Listed buildings in Leeds (Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Ward)
Images for kids
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East side of the church
