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 in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. It is a special kind of church called a Parish church. You can find it right next to Ermysted's Grammar School, not far from the town centre.

The church was built in 1836. A family called the Tempest family helped start it. For many years, priests from the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits) looked after the church. St Stephen's Church is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building.

How the Church Started
Building the Church
Church Growth and Changes
Parish Life Today
Gallery
See also

How the Church Started

For a long time, it was difficult for Catholics to practice their faith openly in England. During a period called the Reformation, the Tempest family held their church services secretly. They used their family home, Broughton Hall, for these services.

From 1648, a priest would regularly visit Broughton Hall to help the local Catholic community. In 1694, a Jesuit priest named Fr Thomas Burnett SJ came to live there. He stayed until he passed away in 1727. After that, Broughton Hall became a home for Jesuit priests. They continued to serve the Catholic people in the area.

Building the Church

In 1836, the foundation stone for St Stephen's Church was laid. This happened seven years after a law called Catholic emancipation was passed. This law gave Catholics more freedom to practice their religion. Charles Tempest, from the Tempest family, laid the first stone.

There was a disagreement about the church's future. The new priest, Fr Michael Trappes, wanted it to be a parish church. This would mean the priest would be in charge. However, Charles Tempest wanted it to be a family chapel, owned by the Tempest family. Because of this argument, the church could not open for five years after it was finished.

Finally, a church leader named John Briggs helped solve the problem. He allowed the Tempest family to choose the priest and pay for the church's running costs. The church officially opened on September 15, 1842. Charles's brother, Thomas Tempest, who became a priest in 1826, led the first service.

Church Growth and Changes

By 1850, more and more Catholics were living in the area. This meant the church needed to be made bigger, and a school was needed too. By September 29, 1853, the church's expansion was complete. A new decorative screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was added by a famous designer named Augustus Pugin. 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 the parish could have a priest living there all the time. Fr George Bridges SJ was the first priest to live in the new presbytery.

In 1854, St Stephen's School opened its doors. From 1861, the school was run by a group of nuns called the Sisters of Mercy. Later, in 1866, another group of nuns, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, took over the school. They stayed until 1970. After them, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary ran the school until 2003.

The Jesuits continued to serve the parish until 1914. After that, the church was handed over to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds. They still look after the parish today.

Parish Life Today

St Stephen's Church is a busy place. It holds five Sunday Masses every week. Three of these services are at the main church: on Saturday at 5:00 PM, and on Sunday at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM.

There is also one Mass held at Broughton Hall every Sunday at 8:30 AM. Another Mass takes place at St Margaret Clitherow Church in Threshfield, near Grassington, every Sunday at 11:00 AM.

St Stephen's Primary School is right next to the church. The school says it works closely with St Stephen's Church. They help everyone in the school community grow in their spiritual journey.