York Oratory
York Oratory | |
---|---|
Oratory Church of Saint Wilfrid, York | |
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
It is within the Diocese of Middlesbrough and was the second pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Beverley until its dissolution in 1878.
History
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.
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]
Present church
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
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
Architecture
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
The church became a grade II listed building in 1968.
Tower
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]
Furnishings
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]
Parish
The church has daily Mass. The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at 8:15am from Monday till Friday, 9:15am on Saturday (Low Mass) and on Sunday at 12:00pm (Sung Mass). The Novus Ordo Mass is celebrated in English at 12:10pm daily, 5:00pm on Saturday (Vigil Mass) and on Sunday at 8:30am (Low) and 10:30am (Sung).[12]
The church has sung Vespers at 4:00pm and (immediately following) Benediction at 4:30pm every Sunday.[13][14]
The Oratory is known for its high standard of music. A voluntary choir sings at the 10.30am 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.
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Wilfrid (Grade II) (1257869)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ "York Oratory", National Churches Trust
- ^ "St Wilfrid's, York", The Oxford Oratory, 20 July 2013
- ISBN 9780900701085– via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "Church of St Wilfrid: History of York". www.historyofyork.org.uk.
- ^ "Oratory Church | York Oratory". www.yorkoratory.com. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ ""History", St. Wilfrid's York Bellringers".
- ^ "Dove Details". dove.cccbr.org.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Wilfrid's, BBC Radio 4 "Bells on Sunday", 28 November 2016".
- ^ "Church row over altar rail". The Press. 11 January 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ^ ""St Wilfrid's, R.C. Church, York", Harrison & Harrison" (PDF).
- ^ "Mass Times | Catholic York". www.yorkoratory.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "St. Wilfrid's, York Oratory (Roman Catholic) | Choral Evensong". www.choralevensong.org.
- ^ "Mass Times | Catholic York". www.yorkoratory.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Undergraduate funding". University of York. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Postgraduate research funding". University of York. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Survey on the Rectory Roof". St Wilfrid's. Retrieved 16 August 2021.