St Austin's Church, Wakefield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Austin's Church, Wakefield |
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| 53°41′13″N 1°30′07″W / 53.687072°N 1.501813°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE3298421281 |
| Location | Wakefield |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | StMartinsWakefield.org |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1827 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Church building |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 6 November 1969 |
| Completed | 1828 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Austin's and English Martyrs |
| Deanery | Wakefield & Pontefract |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | Liverpool |
St Austin's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Wakefield, England. It's found near the city centre, where Northgate meets Marsh Way. This historic building was started in 1827 by a group called the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. Today, it is recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Building the Church: How it Started
In 1824, people began planning for a new church. An architect named Joseph Ireland created the designs. He had also designed a chapel at Houghton Hall before. Two years later, in 1826, a Jesuit priest named Fr John George Morris came to Wakefield. His job was to start a new Catholic community there. Building the church began in 1827. It was officially opened on March 4, 1828, by Thomas Smith, a church leader from the Northern District.
Growing Bigger: Church Expansion
Making More Space: Extensions
By 1852, many more Catholic families had moved to the area. The church needed to be made larger to fit everyone. A school was also built to help with the growing number of children. The church was made longer, and a balcony was added inside. In 1859, work began on the new school building.
The number of Catholic people kept growing in the 1860s and 1870s. So, St Austin's Church was extended again. The house where the priest lived (called the presbytery) was moved. This allowed the church to expand into the old presbytery space. In 1878, a special area called a lady chapel was added. It was designed by an architect named Joseph Hansom.
A New Church: St Ignatius
By December 1877, the church community had grown very large and spread out. The Jesuits decided to build a new chapel in South Ossett. This meant that Catholic families in that area would not have to travel far to Wakefield for Sunday Mass. This new chapel was named St Ignatius, after Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits.
In 1910, St Ignatius became its own church and parish. It was then looked after by the Diocese of Leeds. The current St Ignatius church building was built in 1933 and is still an active parish today. In 1931, the Jesuits handed over St Austin's parish to the Diocese of Leeds, who still manage the church.
The Parish Today: Community Life
In 2008, two local Catholic communities joined together. The parish of English Martyrs, which started in 1932, merged with St Austin's. They formed a new parish called St Martin de Porres. Later, it was renamed St Austin's and English Martyrs Parish.
St Austin's Church holds four Sunday Masses. One is on Saturday evening at 6:15 pm. On Sunday morning, there are Masses at 8:15 am and 11:00 am. There is also a Mass on Sunday evening at 6:00 pm. English Martyrs Church has one Sunday Mass at 9:30 am.
Two nearby schools, St Austin's Catholic Primary School and English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, are connected to the parish. Both schools aim to provide a "Catholic education within a Christian community."
See also
- Society of Jesus
- John Wilson (bishop)
