St Wilfrid's Church, Cantley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Wilfrid's Church, Cantley |
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St Wilfrid's Church, Cantley
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 St Wilfrid's Church, Cantley
Location in South Yorkshire
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| 53°30′20.4″N 1°4′10.89″W / 53.505667°N 1.0696917°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 61850 01439 |
| Location | Cantley, South Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholicism |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Wilfrid |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cantley |
| Deanery | Doncaster |
| Archdeaconry | Doncaster |
| Diocese | Sheffield |
| Province | York |
St Wilfrid's Church in Cantley, South Yorkshire is a very old and important church. It is located in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. This church serves as the main church for the areas of Cantley, Bessacarr, and Branton.
It is a special type of church called an Anglo-Catholic church within the Church of England. This means it follows some older traditions. The church is also a "Grade II* listed" building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St Wilfrid's
The church building first started in 1257, which is a very long time ago! Since then, many changes have been made. The tall tower on the west side of the church was added in the 1300s.
Restoring the Church's Beauty
In the late 1800s, the church had two big restoration projects. These were like major makeovers to bring back its original beauty. The first one happened in 1874, led by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott.
The second important restoration was in 1894. This was done by another well-known church architect, Sir Ninian Comper. His work helped bring back the medieval look inside the church. This look had changed after a period in history called the English Reformation.
Comper's work at St Wilfrid's is considered one of his best. He designed many beautiful parts of the church. These include the main altar area, a special canopy, and a hanging container called a pyx. He also added various statues and colourful stained glass windows. A large, beautifully decorated screen called a rood screen and a rood (a cross with a figure of Jesus) are also his designs.
Church Expansion
In 1989, the church needed more space because more people were attending services. An extension was built on the north side of the building. This almost doubled the size of the church!
William Meaburn Tatham's Role
William Meaburn Tatham was the Vicar (a type of priest) of Cantley for 46 years. He served from 1892 until he passed away in 1938. He was born in 1862 into a wealthy family in Norfolk. His family was connected to a movement that brought back Catholic traditions into the Church of England.
Tatham went to Marlborough College and Oxford University. He was also a keen sportsman. He even played tennis at the Wimbledon Championships in 1882! After studying to become a priest, he started working in churches.
In 1892, Tatham became the Vicar of Cantley. He made sure St Wilfrid's followed the Catholic traditions. This was sometimes difficult, and the bishops of the area did not always agree with him. They never visited the church while he was in charge.
Tatham also served as an Army chaplain during the Boer War (1899–1902). He was married in 1886 to Louisa Valetta Buller. Mrs Tatham passed away six months after her husband.
St Wilfrid's Today
Since William Tatham's time, St Wilfrid's has continued to be part of the Anglo-Catholic movement. It is now part of a group called The Society under the patronage of St Wilfrid and St Hilda.
The number of people living in the parish has grown a lot since World War II. Currently, about 14,063 people live in the area. The church is also connected to a group called Forward in Faith. It receives special guidance from the Bishop of Beverley, who is currently Stephen Race.
The Church Organ
The organ in St Wilfrid's Church was installed in 1905. It was built by a company called John Compton. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
