HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

1890: Provost Brown of St Anne's Cathedral bought a house in Poplar Street, Burley as a Mass centre.

1891: Parish of Sacred Heart, Burley Road founded. Fr Christopher Croskell is the first Parish Priest.

1893: A school chapel was opened.

1905: Jesuits take over the running of Sacred Heart parish. Fr Seddon SJ is the Parish Priest initially, but in the same year Fr O'Gorman SJ took charge of both the parish and St Michael's College.

1920: Fr O’Gorman SJ  and Fr James O'Brien SJ, buy the property on Cardigan Road to house the priests serving Sacred Heart.

1925: Plans drawn up for the building of a church hall. Work soon started… and soon prematurely stopped.

1930: The building was finally completed, but as a church, which is now Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

1930: Sacred Heart infants & mixed school opens underneath the old Sacred Heart Church, Burley Road, run by the Sisters of the Cross & Passion.

1932: An organ was installed in the church with a choir gallery.

1935: The statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was erected over the entrance to the church on Cardigan Road.

1947: The Jesuits left the parish and Father Francis Sole was the new Parish Priest.

1950: Sisters of the Cross and Passion left the parish, replaced by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions.

1953: The new parish priest was Father Leo Flynn. By now the infants department of Sacred Heart School was in prefab buildings on the Cardigan Road site.

1954: The decision was made to make the church on Cardigan Road a separate parish in its own right, under the title of Sacred Heart & Our Lady of Lourdes. Father Flynn was to be the first parish priest. He would see a great growth in the parish, with the Sacred Heart school moving to new premises in the 1960’s on Eden Way.

Late 1960's: The interior of the church was re-ordered by Derek Walker, which included a new altar with a plain reredos added by Jill Messenger. The tabernacle designed by Robin McGhie was transferred from St Anne's Cathedral.

1970: Fr Flynn bought a disused Methodist Chapel on Victoria Road as a chapel-of-ease, and it was dedicated to St Bernadette.

1973: Monsignor Bryan Sharp becomes parish priest. Fr Flynn went into retirement and died in June 1975.

1979: Silver Jubilee celebrations.

1981: Some land by the church was sold to build houses, and the money was used to pay off the parish debt and help to extend and improve the Hall.

1987: After 15 years as parish priest, Mgr Sharp is moved to St Mary’s, Rothwell and is replaced by Fr Peter Ward.

1989: St Bernadette’s church is closed down and sold.

1993: Sacred Heart church is closed down, and the parish divided between the Cathedral parish and Our Lady of Lourdes.

1995: The narthex was created separating the church porch from the main body of the church.

1997: Fr Ward is moved to St James the Great parish, Huddersfield, and the new parish priest is Fr Michael Lynch.

2004: After some time of uncertainty with the changing face of the parish community and the decreasing number of available priests, Fr Peter Kravos is appointed as parish priest of both Our Lady of Lourdes & The Assumption parishes.

2005: A belated Golden Jubilee, and the parish Union of Catholic Mothers celebrates its 40^th anniversary.

PARISH PRIESTS OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

1954-1973 Canon Leo Flynn

1973-1987 Monsignor Bryan Sharp

1987-1997 Father Peter Ward

1997-2003 Father Michael Lynch

2003 Father Simon Lodge (priest-in-charge)

2003-2004 Father Peter Clarke (priest-in-charge)

2004 - 2008 Father Peter Kravos

2008 Father Anthony Jackson

CURATES IN OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

1954-1959 Father V Grogan

1959-1966 Father P J Kelly

1966-1969 Father G Spellman

1969-1972 Father J V Hutton

1972-1975 Rev M Callaghan

1973-1974 Father J Parnell

1975-1978 Father John Osman

1978-1984 Father Kevin Firth

PRIESTS ORDAINED IN/FROM THE PARISH

Revv. Byron (Jesuit), Vincent Bywater (Jesuit), Bernard Hall (Jesuit), Roger & Bernard Charles (Jesuits), Michael Kirwan (Jesuit), William Smith (Rosminian), Michael Hennessy (Redemptorist), Charles Byrne (missions), Ronald Fox (missions), Peter Johnson (Diocesan), Michael Conlin (Diocesan), Terence Doherty (Diocesan), Michael Pick (Diocesan), John Ryan (Diocesan), John Clarke (Diocesan), Joseph Long (Diocesan), Richard Aladics (Diocesan), Dennis Cassidy (Diocesan), and Eamon Hegarty (Diocesan).

A PARISH HISTORY

(Taken from the Silver Jubilee Booklet 1979)

Introduction

The growth of the Catholic Church in Leeds is typical of the parable of the ‘Mustard Seed’, in that from its small beginnings its branches now envelop us all. From the days of St. Augustine the northern parts of our country have cherished the faith intensely, and even during the times of trial and persecution from the 16th century onwards to the time of Catholic Emancipation in the early 19th century, small pockets of the faithful kept the flames of the true religion burning continuously. During the 12th century the Cistercian Order of Monks became established in Yorkshire, as witness the abbeys of Rievaulx, Byland, Jervaux, Fountains and Kirkstall. The last named abbey nestles in the valley of the River Aire, and lies within the confines of our own parish.

Founded in 1152 it spread its influence over the surrounding district until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the first half of the 16th century. We can imagine how the people of this area were dependent on the monks and lay-brothers for their livelihood, helping in the fields, sheep-rearing, and iron smelting. The abbey was a haven of rest for travellers and a hospice for the sick and the aged. When the abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1539 the lead was stripped from the roof and the church bells were removed. Many of the monks and lay-brothers settled nearby as local priests and servants and may have continued their trades particularly as smiths on the site which developed into Kirkstall Forge, or as tanners in another local leather industry.

Henry de Lacy, Baron of Pontefract, had been instrumental in acquiring the site for the abbey at Kirkstall, and his name is perpetuated to this day in the rows of houses leading up from the Abbey to Morris Lane. Likewise after many years in the possession of influential families, the abbey became linked with the Brudenell family, the Earls of Cardigan. These names still linger on in the vicinity of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The Jesuits in Leeds

From these observations we can see that the seeds of the Catholic faith were there to be cultivated. From the end of the 18th century one by one parishes began to spring to life, and when the Diocese of Beverley was divided, and the Leeds Diocese formed, St. Anne’s was chosen as the Cathedral Church, and eventually the mother church spread her branches to enfold the outlying areas. Thus the parish of the Sacred Heart was founded in 1891.

At first it was run by the Diocese but when the Society of Jesus agreed to open St. Michael’s College, one of the conditions was that they be given a parish. On July 13th 1905 the Sacred Heart parish was handed over to the Jesuit Fathers, when Father Seddon S.J. became parish priest. After only a few days, ill health forced him to retire and later that year Father O’Gorman came to take charge of both the parish and St. Michael’s College. At the time of the Jesuits taking over there was a debt of £4,500 and for a considerable time the yearly deficit had to be met by the Society.

The Presbytery & Church on Cardigan Road

It was in the early 192O’s that the then parish priest, Father James O’Brien, acquired a property in Cardigan Road as a presbytery for the priests serving the parish. There was sufficient ground surrounding the residence on which to build a Church Hall and eventually a new church. About 1925 plans were drawn up for the building of the Church Hall, and work soon commenced. Unfortunately after a few months the building came to a standstill due to the fraudulent activities of the architect, and work did not resume for three years, and only after the plans had been modified so that the building could be used as a Chapel-of-ease. A grand bazaar was organised and held in the completed building in 1930, whilst in celebration a parish dinner was held at the then Great Northern Hotel in Wellington Street.

Thus it came to pass that the Sacred Heart Church was served from Cardigan Road. Four priests ministered to the parish, ever faithful in their caring for the sick, and taking a vital interest in the youth under the banner of Boy’s and Girls’ Sodalities of Our Lady. There was much social activity, concerts, dances and whist drives being held regularly in the school. Successive parish priests after Father O’Brien were, Fathers Ref Ily, Hornby and Myerscough, each in his own way making a lasting impression, and endearing themselves to the people. To cater for the many families living in Kirkstall a special tram ran each Sunday at 9.08 a.m. from the Abbey to Willow Road for the 9.30 a.m. Children’s Mass. Great attention must have been paid to ensuring that God’s House was suitably beautified, for it is recorded that both Churches were decorated in 1932, 1934 and 1936. In 1932 a magnificent new organ and choir gallery was installed in the ‘New’ Church in Cardigan Road. The celebrated organist Henry Alban Chambers played at the inaugural ceremony.

In 1935 a new statue of the Sacred Heart was erected over the entrance to the Cardigan Road Church. This statue now welcomes with open arms, all who come to the new Sacred Heart School in Eden Way.

In 1938 one of the Jesuit Fathers came as Curate, whose name was synonymous with youth. Very soon after his arrival, Father Briffa revealed his plans for a Boys’ Club to be erected in the Cardigan Road grounds and sponsored by the National Association of Boys’ Clubs. Thus Loyola Boys’ Club was opened on June 2lst 1939, the feast of St. Aloysius the patron of youth. This was a most successful venture, well organised and administered, catering for the needs of boys in their ‘teens. Hobbies and pastimes of a varied sort, including the rudiments of printing were encouraged and cultivated. The pity was that its activities were at first restricted, and later ceased because of the onset of the Second World War.

It was in 1947 that a memorable event took place, not in the parish church but in the Cardigan Road, Chapel-of-ease. This was the ordination by Bishop Poskitt of five Jesuit priests, including one Father Vincent Bywater, whose family lived in the parish. Perhaps at this juncture we ought to mention other priests who were members of our parish, for whom we thank God for their dedication to His service:—Revv. Wm. Smith (Rosminian), Bernard Hall (Jesuit), Michael Henesy (Redemptorist), Peter Johnson (Secular), Michael Conlin (Secular) and Rodger Charles (Jesuit).

The last phase of the Jesuit administration of the parish, ended in 1947, despite impassioned pleas and a written petition, signed by parishioners, to the Father Provincial, that the Jesuit Fathers might remain. A more fitting successor to the Jesuits could not have been chosen than Father Francis J. Sole, He was assisted by Rev. William Kelly and the newly ordained Fathers Bernard McCourt and James Clarke.

Sacred Heart School

The history of a parish can scarcely be separated from the history of its school, and so at this point we should do well to trace from 1930 onwards the highlights of the Sacred Heart school in Burley Road. Built underneath the Church were two departments, Infants and Mixed, up to the age of 14 years The Sisters of the Cross and Passion were in charge, Sister Joan as Head of the Infants and Sister Bernadette, Head of the Mixed Department. They were supported by a loyal and dedicated staff, some of whom spent practically the whole of their teaching career in very difficult conditions. In spite of It being condemned structurally for many years, it could boast of one of the best percentage attendance records in the city, and academically it had an exceptional reputation; many of its former pupils have eventually followed successful careers in education, engineering, the health services and commerce.

Shortly after the war, under the charge of the first male teacher, who had joined the staff in 1933, the Senior Boys aged 12 to 15 had moved to the premises in Cardigan Road which had formerly been the Loyola Boys’ Club previously mentioned. Here they had greater facilities than in the cramped conditions at Burley Road. A library was available and gymnastic equipment. The boys benefitted greatly and many successful rugby league teams won championship trophies and many of their players attained City and County honours.

In 1950 it was announced that the Sisters of the Cross and Passion were being withdrawn from the parish. Every effort was made to persuade another order of nuns to come and replace them. Eventually the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions took over the Convent and founded their first house in the North of England. They provided the two headmistresses in the Infants and Mixed Departments of the school in the persons of Sister Pachomius and Sister Dorotheus.

The Parish in the 1950's

Reverting now to the events in the parish, the Kirkstall parishioners had no longer to rely on transport to Burley Road for Sunday Mass, for the premises of the British Legion Club in Sandford Road were hired and here Mass was celebrated each Sunday at 9 am. Obviously, at some time in the future another Chapel-of-ease was going to be needed in that area.

After the difficult transitional period it was realised that Father Sole was seriously ill, and would not be able to resume his duties as parish priest, and so the Bishop appointed Father Leo J. Flynn to assume responsibility for the parish in January 1953. It was in June of that year that he celebrated his Silver Jubilee in the priesthood. He received many gifts especially from his former parishioners in Selby and from the children of Sacred Heart School, the Infants Department of which was now accommodated in the new prefab classrooms in the grounds at Cardigan Road. In December 1954 the Senior Boys vacated the Loyola Boys’ Club and returned to Burley Road where they were later to have a classroom in a converted house in Willow Road.

In 1954 the decision was made to make the Church in Cardigan Road a separate parish under the title of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes. Father Flynn was to be its first parish priest; and so from now onwards we follow the progress of the new parish whose boundaries were formed to include an area formerly in the Cathedral parish from Victoria Road to St. Anne’s Road, and from Royal Park Road across the railway via Stanmore Hill to the top of Burley Road. Father Flynn was an austere man, seemingly aloof, but in reality shy and deeply religious. He had a wonderful devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, hence the name of this re-formed parish. The building in Cardigan Road was soon reconstructed, under Father Flynn’s direction, changing it from the semblance of a concert hall with its sloping stage, to a liturgically devotional church.

We turn again now to events on the educational front, a sphere dear to the heart of Father Flynn. After many years of patient waiting and negotiation a site was obtained within the parish for a new primary school to replace the much condemned Sacred Heart school in Burley Road. By the early 1960’s we saw a massive school building programme in North West Leeds. Besides the new Sacred Heart school in Eden Way which catered for the children of the parish up to the age of 11+, two magnificent new Secondary Modern schools St. John Bosco and St. Benedict, and also a new Grammar school of St. Thomas Aquinas were built to cater for the further education of our children. All these developments produced a sense of achievement and fulfilment. All the while the spiritual health of the parish grew apace, the number of Holy Communions showing a manifold increase. Father Flynn continued to organise the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, and he meticulously kept a statistical record of the Diocesan schools. His labours were rewarded first when he was named a Canon of Lourdes, and later he was appointed by the Bishop to be a Canon of the Diocese.  Meanwhile two members of our parish were rewarded for their services to the church by being presented with the ‘Benemerenti’ medal; they were Mr. J. S. Thorp and Miss M. J. Byrne.

St Bernadette's Church

Just as Our Lady of Lourdes parish started as a Chapel-of-ease to the Sacred Heart Church, so in 1970 with commendable foresight Canon Flynn purchased, for a very moderate sum, a disused Methodist Chapel in Victoria Road, Kirkstall which became the Chapel-of-ease under the patronage of St. Bernadette.

In 1973 Canon Flynn was transferred to his native parish of St. Patrick’s Bradford, but sadly his health began to fail and he died on June 5th 1975. As successor to Canon Flynn, we welcomed Mgr. Bryan Sharp, a man full of vitality and enthusiasm, who successfully combined the role of parish priest with the task of Chancellor of the Diocese.

(This takes us to 1979, when the booklet was completed)

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Our Lady of Lourdes Church Today

The Oratory