York Oratory | |
---|---|
Oratory Church of Saint Wilfrid, York | |
![]() The building in 2011 | |
53°57′41.4″N1°5′7.75″W / 53.961500°N 1.0854861°W | |
OS grid reference | SE 60151 52127 |
Location | York |
Country | England |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Tradition | Oratory of Saint Philip Neri |
Website | https://www.yorkoratory.com/ |
History | |
Dedication | Saint Wilfrid |
Consecrated | 14 July 1945 |
Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Grade II listed [1] |
Architect(s) | George Goldie |
Completed | 1864 |
Construction cost | £10,000 |
Specifications | |
Length | 96 feet (29 m) |
Width | 51 feet (16 m) |
Nave width | 27 feet (8.2 m) |
Height | 147 feet (45 m) |
Bells | 11 (1995/96 & 2019) |
Administration | |
Province | Archdiocese of Liverpool |
Diocese | Diocese of Middlesbrough |
Parish | Saint Wilfrid, York |
Clergy | |
Provost | V. Rev. Fr. Richard Duffield, Cong. Orat. |
Priest(s) | Rev. Fr. Daniel Seward, Cong. Orat. |
Assistant priest(s) | Rev. Fr. Stephen Brown, Cong. Orat. Br David Chadwick, Cong. Orat. Br Paul Murray, Cong. Orat. Br Alexander Bailey, Cong. Orat. |
![]() |
The Oratory Church of Saint Wilfrid, York (or York Oratory for short) is a Catholic church in York, England.
A church dedicated to Saint Wilfrid has stood in York since medieval times. The church is known as the "Mother Church of the city of York". [2] It is in Gothic Revival style. The arch over the main door has the most detailed Victorian carving in the city. The present church was completed in 1864 and is considered to be one of the most perfectly finished Catholic churches in England, rich in sculptures, paintings and stained glass. In 2013, the church was entrusted to the Oratorian Fathers. [3]
It is within the Diocese of Middlesbrough and was the second pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Beverley until its dissolution in 1878.
In the early 1500s, Saint Wilfrid's was an advowson of the Benedictine Saint Mary's Abbey, York. [4] In 1585, the parish could not support itself; the church became redundant, had fallen into disuse, and was demolished. [5] It was eventually built over and the parish united with Saint Michael le Belfry. Saint Wilfrid's parish was revived by York Catholics in 1742 when they established their Mission in Little Blake Street. The Mission was founded by the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England, Edward Dicconson.
A Catholic priest's house was established at number 7 Little Blake Street (now Duncombe Place), known as Chapel House. In 1760, the first public place of worship for Catholics opened in York. The chapel continued until 1802 when another chapel was built on the opposite side of the street (on the present site). At this time there were still strong anti-Catholic feelings, so the chapel was hidden from the street by its presbytery. The chapel could hold 700 people and the Catholic population continued to increase in York. [5]
A church dedicated to Saint Wilfrid has stood in York since medieval times. The original site of the church was on land now occupied by the Judges Lodgings in Lendal and part of the Assembly Rooms behind in Blake Street. In 1848, plans were drawn up to build a new church. The funds, however, were diverted to build a much needed church in the Walmgate area for the large number of Irish Catholics who settled there during the Great Famine. Saint George's Church was built and it became the Pro-Cathedral of the Catholic diocese of Beverley.
In 1859, York Corporation were planning a new approach road to Lendal Bridge. This prompted Dean Duncombe to apply to the corporation to continue the route by the chapel and towards the Minster. The old narrow lane (Lop Lane or Little Blake Street) was replaced with a wide thoroughfare. The houses on the opposite side to the chapel were demolished and the road widened to create Duncombe Place, named after the Dean.
Saint Wilfrid's became the Pro-Cathedral Church of the Beverley Diocese. This was short lived as Beverley diocese was split to make the Dioceses of Leeds (south of the River Ouse) and of Middlesbrough (north of the river). The Church of St Wilfrid is often known by Catholics as the "Mother Church of the City of York", since its history connects it to the first, hidden revival of the Catholic faith in this city. [6]
The Oratory Church, as it stands today, was to be built on the site of the old chapel. The architect of the building was George Goldie, son of a prominent parishioner Dr. George Goldie, and was baptised in Saint Wilfrid's chapel. He later designed Saint Wilfrid's Primary School nearby, but died in 1887 before the school was built. The church was designed as Gothic Revival, a copy of 13th–14th century style. The arch over the main door has the most detailed Victorian carving in the city.
The foundation stone was laid in April 1862 by Bishop Cornthwaite. The present church was completed in 1864 for the sum of £10,000. It was opened by Cardinal Wiseman in June 1864. It was considered to be "one of the most perfectly finished Catholic Churches in England, rich in sculpture, stained glass and fittings". [5] Part of the porch way, believed to belong to the original Saint Wilfrid's Church, was found under the floor of the Assembly Rooms during the 19th century renovations.
The church became a grade II listed building in 1968.
The tower is some 147 ft high and is visible around much of York. The design of the tower makes it appear as though the Oratory is taller than the Minster in the background; it is only when a person has passed the Oratory Church that they can see the Minster is taller.
The tower holds a fine peal of ten bells, in addition to an Angelus bell (added in 2019 and named "John Henry") with the heaviest eight bells dating from 1938. The chime was cast at the foundry of Gillett & Johnston in Croydon, and installed at Saint John's Church in Thornham. The bells became available in 1993, and relocated to Saint Wilfrid's. [7] Two lighter bells were added in 1995 to create a peal of ten. [8] They were cast by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. One is inscribed "Saint Wilfrid"; the other bears the inscription "Ringers ring with one accord. Make beautiful music to praise the Lord". [9]
The altar rails at the Oratory are very fine and of particular note. They were made in 1948 by Wilfrid Dowson, from Kirkbymoorside, who was responsible for some work at York Minster, as well as the Queen's Gates at Saint George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. [10] The rails were altered and temporarily removed in February 2007. The organ is an 1867 Forster and Andrews, restored in 1998 by Harrison & Harrison. [11]
The church has daily Mass. The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at 8:15 am from Monday till Friday, 9:15 am on Saturday (Low Mass) and on Sunday at 12:00 pm (Sung Mass). The Novus Ordo Mass is celebrated in English at 12:10 pm daily, 5:00 pm on Saturday (Vigil Mass) and on Sunday at 8:30 am (Low) and 10:30 am (Sung). [12]
The church has sung Vespers at 4:00 pm and (immediately following) Benediction at 4:30 pm every Sunday. [13] [14]
The Oratory is known for its high standard of music. A voluntary choir sings at the 10.30 am English Mass, and professional singers at the 12 noon Latin Mass, performing chant, polyphony and other works from the Catholic choral tradition.
The Oratory offers four choral scholarships through the University of York to both undergraduate and postgraduate female and male students: sopranos, altos, tenors and basses to form a quartet. [15] [16]
The church's rectory is in Petergate House. [17] In 1945, Middlesbrough Diocese bought a 16th-century house in the Shambles. Number 35 is now the shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow, who was martyred in York. It is a pilgrimage site for Catholics from all over the world.
Beverley is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located 27 miles (43 km) south-east of York and 9 miles (14 km) north-west of Hull. At the 2021 census the built-up area of the town had a population of 30,930, and the smaller civil parish had a population of 18,014. It is the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, commonly known as Ripon Cathedral, and until 1836 known as Ripon Minster, is a cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a monastery by monks of the Irish tradition in the 660s, it was refounded as a Benedictine monastery by St Wilfrid in 672. The church became collegiate in the tenth century, and acted as a mother church within the large Diocese of York for the remainder of the Middle Ages. The present church is the fourth, and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. In 1836 the church became the cathedral for the Diocese of Ripon. In 2014 the Diocese was incorporated into the new Diocese of Leeds, and the church became one of three co-equal cathedrals of the Bishop of Leeds.
The Cathedral Church of St Marie is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Sheffield, England. It lies in a slightly hidden location, just off Fargate shopping street, but signals its presence with a 195 feet (59 m) spire, the tallest in Sheffield. It is an especially fine example of an English Roman Catholic Cathedral, with much fine interior decoration. Re-ordering of the Sanctuary following the Second Vatican Council, has been sensitive. There are several particularly notable side altars, as well as historic statues and painted tiles.
Brompton Oratory, also known as the London Oratory, is a neo-classical late-Victorian Catholic parish church in the Brompton area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, neighbouring Knightsbridge, London. Its name stems from Oratorians, who own the building, live nextdoor at the London Oratory, and service the parish. The church's formal title is the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Diocese of Middlesbrough is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church based in Middlesbrough, England and is part of the province of Liverpool. It was founded on 20 December 1878, with the splitting of the Diocese of Beverley which had covered all of Yorkshire. The Bishop's See is in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, at St Mary's Cathedral. Catholic schools in the diocese are run by the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust as well as St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Academy Trust.
St George's Roman Catholic church is located in the centre of the city of York, England, on George Street in the Diocese of Middlesbrough. The Church was designed by Joseph Hansom and was the first pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Beverley.
Saint Mary's Cathedral, also known as Middlesbrough Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, England. It is the see of the Bishop of Middlesbrough, who is ordinary of the Diocese of Middlesbrough in the Province of Liverpool.
George Goldie was an English ecclesiastical architect who specialised in Roman Catholic churches.
Leeds Minster, also known as the Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds is the minster church of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the site of the oldest church in the city and is of architectural and liturgical significance. A church is recorded on the site as early as the 7th century, although the present structure is a Gothic Revival one, designed by Robert Dennis Chantrell and completed in 1841. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and was the Parish Church of Leeds before receiving the honorific title of "Minster" in 2012. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by Historic England.
St Paul's Church is a Church of England parish church located on St Paul's Square in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. Formerly a medieval collegiate church, the large building of cathedral proportions with its later additions and iconic spire dominates the town. St Paul's is the largest Anglican church in Bedfordshire, and the church exercises a ministry of welcome to thousands of visitors and pilgrims from far and wide each year. St Paul's is officially recognised as a Major Parish Church and is a member of the Major Churches Network.
Margaret Clitherow was an English saint and martyr of the Roman Catholic Church, known as "the Pearl of York". She was pressed to death for refusing to enter a plea to the charge of harbouring Catholic priests. She was canonised in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
St Richard of Chichester Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Chichester, West Sussex, England. The church was built in 1958 and contains the largest scheme of stained glass by Gabriel Loire in the United Kingdom. The church is situated on Market Avenue on the corner of Cawley Road, next to St Richard's Catholic Primary School. It is a Grade II listed building.
Duncombe Place is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
Petergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. It is divided into High Petergate and Low Petergate. The well-known view of the Minster from Low Petergate is described by the City of York Council as "excellent".
More House is the Catholic chaplaincy for the University of York in Heslington, York. The building itself dates from the late 18th century. The chaplains were formerly Carmelite friars resident in the building, but since 2021 priests from York Oratory have been ministering to the chaplaincy. It is located on Main Street in Heslington, which is towards the south edge of the university's Campus West. It is a Grade II listed building.
St Peter's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It was built from 1856 to 1858 and designed by George Goldie in the Gothic Revival style. It is located on the corner of Castle Road and Tollergate in the town centre. It is a Grade II listed building.
St Wilfrid's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. It was built from 1860 to 1862 and designed by Joseph Hansom. It is located on the corner of Trinity Lane and Coltsgate Hill to the north of the centre of Ripon. It is in the Gothic Revival style and is a Grade II* listed building.
Our Lady and St Peter's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was built from 1893 to 1894 in the Gothic Revival style. It is located on the corner of Victoria Road and Wycliffe Lane, close to the town centre. It is a Grade II listed building.
St John of Beverley Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was built from 1897 to 1898 in the Gothic revival style. It is located on the corner of York Street and the North Bar in the centre of the town. It is a Grade II listed building.