St Mary the Less Church

 

Sunday  Eucharist 9am

Monday Morning Service at 9.30a.m.

Wednesday  Said Eucharist 7pm

Alternate Thursdays First Steps (Pre school group with a Christian bias) 10am

First Saturday in the month Coffee Morning and Councillor Consultations 10am – 12noon

 



St Mary the Less Church - contributor of this photo is Paul Johnstone-Knight this photo is copyrighted but licensed for further reuse

Vicars of St Mary the Less

1865 E.Winterbottom

1874 A.Blair

1891 Joseph Holden Stallard

1902 William Langley Robbins

1903 Arthur Llewelyn Curry

1916 James Bell

1949 F.Bateman

1961 S.J.Thornton

1968 Peter R. Gould

1974 T.B.Tams

        Richard Humphries

 

Dick Mills the gravedigger who lived in Vicars Terrace unearthed roman coins in the churchyard in 1927.

 

The Church was errected at a cost of approx. £2500, the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Bland of Kippax Park in 1863 and was consecrated by Bishop Bickerstilt on the 10th August 1865. Built of stone the Church is of the early english style, consisting of a chancel with organ chamber, nave, south facing porch, vestry and open stone belfry containing one bell on the west wall.

On the outside of the west wall can be seen the remains of a support for a set of 8 carrilon bells which were dedicated in June 1920, given by the parishoners by subscription to commemorate the signing of peace of the First World War.

The stained East window was erected by Rev Edward Davison Bland of Kippax Park, and there are others  one of which was erected in 1883 by Mrs Prince of Allerton Bywater, another in 1883 by the REV Alexander Blair BA vicar 1874-94 ond one to Miss M.E.Atkinson placed in 1895. there is a window dedicated to Rev. James Bell who was vicar for 33 years

An oak pulpit with the figure of the "Good Shepherd" and a brass eagle lectern were the gifts of Mrs Amy Sara Stocker in 1918 and were dedicated on 31st March 1919

The carved oak panneling at the east end was presented in 1920 by Mrs Robertshaw and Herbert Skelton in memory of their father William Grainger Skelton who was Parish Clerk 1865-1918

There are sittings for 250 people, the registry dates from 1865.

The Old Vicarage is still standing behind the Church.

In more recent times (2010) a new extension has been added and all the pews have been removed and replaced by chairs, the floors have been levelled and underfloor heating installed.

Across the main road is a monument built in the memory of the men who fell in the 1914-18 war. This column of Portland Stone is 22 feet high and is hexagonal in shape and is crowned with a Maltese Cross. it cost £1000 to build and the money was raised by public subscription.

 

interior of St Mary the Less Church before renovations in 2011
interior of St Mary the Less Church before renovations in 2011
interior of St Mary the Less church after renovation in 2011
St Mary's new extension added in 2010
interior of new extension 2011

Kath & Jeff Birch maintaining entrance pathway

image of St Mary's Lytchgate by David Newbould

The Lytchgate was errected to the memory of Hugh Smithson Manager of the Colliery.

 

 

dedication of war memorial window in 1947
dedication of war memorial window 1947.p[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [496.2 KB]
Time capsule and roman coins find
time capsule and roman coins find.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.6 MB]
Dedication of Lytchgate
dedication of lytchgate.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [642.4 KB]

Please click on one of the links above.