Ss Leonard & Mary, Malton facts for kids

St Leonard and Mary, Malton
Country	England
Denomination	Catholic
Website	http://www.malton-catholic.org
History
Status	Active
Dedication	St Leonard, St Mary
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	29 September 1951
Years built	12th Century
Administration
Diocese	Middlesbrough

Ss Leonard & Mary Catholic Church is a very old church in Malton, North Yorkshire, England. It is now a Roman Catholic church, part of the Diocese of Middlesbrough. This church is special because it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic building that needs to be protected. The church still has at least 24 old carvings from the Middle Ages.

A sign outside the church says it was started in the 1100s. It was first a small church, called a "chapel of ease," for the Gilbertine Priory in Old Malton. In 1971, the Church of England gave this church to the Roman Catholic Church. This was a friendly act between the two churches.

This church is the oldest one currently used by Catholics in England. It was built in the mid-to-late 1100s. Before this, St Etheldreda's in London was considered the oldest. St Leonard's is also the first English parish church to return to Roman Catholic use after the Reformation.

The Church's Long History

The church of St. Leonard's was first mentioned around 1150. At that time, it was given to the Gilbertine order. It served as a "chapel of ease" for the Malton Priory. This priory was about a mile away in "old" Malton.

Changes Over the Centuries

The church's tower was built much later, in the 1400s. It first had a stone spire, which is a tall, pointed roof. Later, this stone spire was replaced with one made of wood and slate.

In December 1539, the church became part of the new Church of England. This happened when King Henry VIII closed many monasteries, including the Malton Priory. This event is known as the dissolution of the monasteries.

Adding Bells and a Clock

In 1768, eight bells were added to the tower. These bells were made by a famous company called Lester and Pack. Later, in 1897, a clock was put in the tower. This was done to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60th year as queen, called her Diamond Jubilee.

Over many years, the church building changed a lot. In 1907, an architect named Charles Hodgson Fowler tried to restore it. This included changing some windows on the north side. He also rebuilt parts of the south walls of the main church area and the chancel.

Returning to Catholic Use

In 1969, the Church of England closed St Leonard's. Then, in 1971, they gave it to the Roman Catholic Church. This was a kind gesture of goodwill. At this time, the church's name was changed to include St Mary. The Catholic community moved from their old chapel to St Mary in Wells Street, Malton, to this church. A beautiful stained glass window from the old chapel was moved to the new church. This window helped mark the move.

Modern Updates to the Inside

Between 1988 and 1989, the inside of the church was changed a lot. A raised platform, called a dais, with an altar was placed in the middle of the main area. The seats were arranged around it. The old chancel, which is the area near the altar, was kept as a special chapel. It was separated from the main area by an open screen.