St Stephen's Church, Skipton Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Stephen's Church, Skipton
West side of the church
53°57′49″N 2°01′15″W / 53.9635°N 2.0207°W / 53.9635; -2.0207
OS grid reference	SD 98741 51938
Location	Skipton
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	StStephensSkipton.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	27 October 1836 (1836-10-27)
Founder(s)	Tempest family
Dedication	Saint Stephen
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	2 March 1978
Completed	1836
Construction cost	£1681
Administration
Deanery	Keighley & Skipton
Diocese	Leeds
Province	Liverpool

St Stephen's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. It's right next to Ermysted's Grammar School, near the town centre. This church was built in 1836 by the Tempest family and was first looked after by a group called the Society of Jesus. It's considered a special historical building, listed as Grade II.

How the Church Started
Building the Church
Making the Church Bigger
Church Services Today
Gallery
See also

How the Church Started

For a long time, the Tempest family held church services in their home, Broughton Hall. This was during a period called the Reformation, when it was difficult for Catholics to practice their faith openly. A priest would travel to their home regularly to help local Catholics, starting in 1648.

In 1694, a Jesuit priest named Fr Thomas Burnett SJ came to live at Broughton Hall. He stayed there until he passed away in 1727. After him, other Jesuit priests continued to live at Broughton Hall. They helped serve the Catholic community in the area.

Building the Church

In 1836, the foundation stone for St Stephen's Church was laid by Charles Tempest. This happened seven years after Catholic emancipation, which meant Catholics had more freedom to practice their religion.

There was a disagreement between the new priest, Fr Michael Trappes, and Charles Tempest. They argued about whether the church would be a public parish church, managed by the priest, or a private family chapel, owned by the Tempests. Because of this argument, the church wasn't opened for five years after it was finished!

Finally, a bishop named John Briggs helped solve the problem. He allowed the Tempest family to choose a priest and pay for the church's running costs.

The church officially opened on 15 September 1842. The first Mass was led by Thomas Tempest, Charles's brother, who had become a priest in 1826.

Making the Church Bigger

By 1850, more and more Catholics were living in the area, so the church needed to be made larger. A school was also needed for the children.

By 1853, the church's extension was finished. A new reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) designed by Augustus Pugin was added. New sections called transepts were also built to create a side chapel. A house for the priest, called a presbytery, was also built. This meant a priest, Fr George Bridges SJ, could live right there in the parish.

In 1854, St Stephen's School opened. From 1861, nuns called the Sisters of Mercy taught at the school. Later, in 1866, another group of nuns, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, took over the school. They left in 1970, and the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary then ran the school until 2003.

The Jesuit priests served the parish until 1914. After that, the church was handed over to the Diocese of Leeds, who still look after the parish today.

Church Services Today

The church holds five Sunday Masses each week. Three of these are at St Stephen's Church itself: on Saturday at 5:00pm, and on Sunday at 9:30am and 6:00pm. There is also one Mass at Broughton Hall at 8:30am every Sunday. Another Mass is held at St Margaret Clitherow Church in Threshfield, near Grassington, at 11:00am every Sunday.

St Stephen's Primary School, which is next to the church, says that it "works hand in hand with St. Stephen's Church in enabling everyone to grow spiritually."