St Patrick's Church, Bradford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Patrick's Church |
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| 53°47′51″N 1°45′46″W / 53.7975°N 1.7629°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 15716 33495 |
| Location | Bradford |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.stpatricksmission.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Patrick |
| Consecrated | 11 July 1903 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 9 August 1983 |
| Architect(s) | George Goldie |
| Groundbreaking | 1852 |
| Completed | 13 July 1853 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Joseph's Bradford |
| Deanery | Bradford |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | Liverpool |
St Patrick's Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built between 1852 and 1853. The church was designed by a famous architect named George Goldie. You can find it in the city centre, at the corner of Sedgfield Terrace and Westgate. This church is special because it is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Bradford that is still used today. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical place.
Contents
History of St Patrick's Church
The Church's Beginning
Before St Patrick's, the first Roman Catholic church in Bradford was St Mary's Church. It was built in 1825, after a big change in religion called the Reformation. St Mary's Church was rebuilt later, but it closed in 2008.
St Patrick's Church was started by a priest named Canon Thomas Harrison. He was the priest at St Mary's Church. In 1850, he began to buy the land for St Patrick's Church. He had to buy the land secretly through another person. This was because some people in the city did not like Catholics at that time.
Building the Church
Building work on St Patrick's Church began in 1852. George Goldie was the architect who designed it. On July 13, 1853, the church officially opened. The Bishop of Beverley, John Briggs, led the opening ceremony. In 1855, St Patrick's became its own separate church area, called a parish.
In the 1860s, the inside of the church was fully decorated. A house for the priests, called a presbytery, was built next door in 1866. A south porch was added to the church in 1869.
Consecration Ceremony
On July 11, 1903, the church was officially "consecrated." This means it was formally dedicated to God. This special event happened after all the money owed for building the church had been paid off. Michael Cardinal Logue, a very important church leader, led the main ceremony. The altar dedicated to Our Lady, which is in a side chapel, was consecrated by Bishop Richard Lacy.
A special stone in the church has details of this event written in Latin. Here is what it says in English:
- To God, Most Good, Most Great
- During the time of Pope Leo XIII, and Bishop William Gordon, under the leadership of John Earnshaw, with help from priests James F. Downes, Matthew Gosse, and Michael Patrick Farrell, in the year 1903, on July 11, this Church of St. Patrick was consecrated by Cardinal Michael Logue.
- The Altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary was also consecrated by Bishop Richard Lacey.
- On the days after, other bishops gave sermons.
- Please say a prayer for the people who helped consecrate this church.
Recent Changes
Between 1968 and 1972, the inside of the church was changed. These changes followed new rules from a big meeting called the Second Vatican Council.
Next to the church is St Pio Friary. This is where the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal live. They help the people who attend St Patrick's Church. They also run a local soup kitchen, which helps people who need food.
St Patrick's Parish
A "parish" is a specific area that a church serves. Since 2009, St Patrick's Church has been a Mission church. This means it is part of the larger parish of St Joseph. The main church for this parish is St Joseph's Church.
St Joseph's Church
St Joseph's Church is located on the corner of Pakington Street and Manchester Road. It is also a Grade II listed building, like St Patrick's. Edward Simpson designed St Joseph's Church. Building started in 1885, and it opened on September 14, 1887. The church was consecrated on September 14, 1937.
In the 1930s, some changes were made inside the church by an architect named J. H. Langtry-Langton. In 1964, the church was made bigger by his son, Peter Langtry-Langton. On September 24, 2009, a special place called the Shrine of the Annunciation of Our Lady of Bradford was created in the church. Since 2016, St Joseph's Church has also been a place where the Tridentine Mass is said.
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds
- Listed buildings in Bradford (City Ward)
