ST MICHAELS CHURCH

Westgate End, Wakefield, WF2 9RW

Contact: Rev Gerald Sykes Tel: 01924 383724

Email: Vicar2@kheokapfo.net

Church of St Michael the Archangel

Westgate Common Wakefield 1861

Although St Michael’s Church on Westgate Common, Wakefield was dedicated on the 27^th May 1861 its history in the sense of a “congregation of faithful people” can be traced back for some 20 years before this date.

The 1840’s marked a high-point in the industrial expansion of this country; whilst this led to the greatness of the Victorian era there is no doubt that for many it produced hard conditions with long hours at work, low wages and poor housing.

In the 1850’s the Oxford movement was spreading from the confines of the University to the wider life of the Church.  At St Michael’s from the beginning it was intended that it should be a church, which maintained in Wakefield the Catholic Faith, Tradition and Teaching and it, always has been.

Up to the end of the 18^th century the area that is now St Michael’s Parish was largely open country, outside the town.  During the early 19^th century the opening of coalmines led to the building up of this area and the need for a church.

St Michael’s parish was originally part of Alverthorpe parish that was only formed in the early 1820’s.  Services were originally held in a building on Westgate Common and then in the later years of 1850’s in the old boys’ school.  In 1855 The Reverend Edward Thewlis, late of Wakefield Cathedral, was appointed Curate of Alverthorpe and was given charge of the mission on Westgate Common.

The site of our church was acquired in 1856.  The Bishop of Ripon blessed the Foundation Stone of the church on Thursday in Easter Week 16^th April 1857.  The new church was solemnly opened for worship on Michaelmas Day, Wednesday 29^th September 1858.  The consecration could not however, take place then as insufficient funds had been raised for the endowment of the church.  The offertories on the opening day amounted to £51 – a very large sum of money for 150 years ago.

The stained east window was a gift of Mr Thomas Foljambe of Holmfield who was the owner of a large part of Thornes.

The building was considered to be “a great ornament to the town.”  The Architect was William Dykes of York.

The Bishop of Ripon consecrated the Church on Whit Monday 27th May 1861.  At the public luncheon following the service the Bishop said the church did very great credit to all who had assisted in raising funds for its erection.  The district with which it was connected was a very poor one.  There were no wealthy properties within the area and the money had been raised among some 3000 small tenants.

A separate parish was assigned to St Michael’s in 1869 and the Reverend W A Cass was designated as Vicar on the 7^th January.  The Vicar of Alverthorpe was designated as Patron of the Benefice.  Whilst the Reverend W A Cass was vicar the Girls’ School was built.  The Reverend W A Cass remained at St Michael’s until 1872 and the stained glass window at the western end of the church illustrating the words of the Benedicite was inserted in his memory.

After the First World War in 1919, the three hanging lamps were placed before the High Altar in memory of the members of St Michael’s congregation and parish who gave their lives in that War.

In 1927, an extension was made to the Vestry, including a priest’s vestry in memory of Haydn Brear who for over 50 years had been the organist.

The six Florentine candlesticks and Crucifix on the High Altar were provided as a memorial to Mary Ann Marshall, a former Headmistress of St Michael’s Infant School, and were dedicated at the Centenary Service on 27^th May 1961.

On the 27^th May 1961 there was a Solemn High Mass at 11 o’clock in the presence of the Bishop of Pontefract the right Reverend George Clarkson.  The Mayor Wakefield and a large congregation including neighbouring clergy and clergy who had served at St Michael’s attended the service.  Like the Consecration Day in 1861, it was a fine summer’s day.  At the conclusion of the Mass, the Te Deum was solemnly sung as an act of Thanksgiving for God’s blessing to St Michael’s for the previous 100 years.

In the booklet “Church of St Michael the Archangel, Westgate Common, Wakefield written during 1961; the concluding paragraph is written as follows:

The first thing that happened to St Michael’s after the Centenary service was putting the Church on an Island, and since the 1960’s the church has continue to serve the people of this area.

St. Michael’s has been reordered in the last decade. Comfortable chairs have replaced the pews and a nave altar installed. The church can now be used very flexibly. The church maintains its Anglo-Catholic tradition but tries to combine tradition with innovation.

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