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St Stephen's Church, Skipton Virtual Tour - Introduction |
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>> Introduction > Exterior > Nave & Gallery > Sanctuary > Side chapel > Convent <<
The story of St Stephen may be found in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles 6:8 – 7:60. He was one of seven men chosen to assist the apostles in their work and ordained a Deacon. He is said to have worked “great wonders and signs among the people” and when this agitated the Jewish leaders, he led an eloquent defense of the Christian faith. The incensed leaders dragged Stephen out of Jerusalem and stoned him to death, even as he beheld the glory of God and prayed for his murderers. His feast day is the 26th of December, a place of honour in the calendar as it immediately follows Christmas day. The first mention of this church by Thomas Peter Tempest in 1826 seems to suggest that the church was to be named in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, Baldisaro Porri who was born in Appiano, Italy came to Skipton in 1827 and may have persuaded Sir Charles Tempest to name the church after St Stephen. Stephen was a Tempest family name and the Porri family church in Italy was dedicated to San Stefano. The Porri family line is carried on through the Fattorini family who are still dedicated parishioners. * * * * * The church was designed by a James Flint, although some
references point to the work of Richard Love. Fr Trappes, who initiated
most of the work mentions a Mr Lane of Manchester. Land on Sycamore Hill,
just outside Skipton was bought with the help of Charles Tempest. When the
church was built it was surrounded by cornfields. Work began in 1836 and
the church was opened on 15 September 1842, following a five year dispute
over its ownership. The original church was a simple rectangular building
with a pitched wooden roof. Its approximate form may be shown in the photograph below
which is taken from one of the stained glass windows in the church. This
window was donated in 1852 and shows Sir Charles Tempest, baronet offering
the church to God. This pose has been adopted since the Middle Ages and
shows the donor in a posture of protection and patronage. The church was enlarged in 1850 to include a north and south transept, giving the church a traditional cruciform shape. The sacristy or vestry is in the north transept and the side chapel is in the south transept. The plans were drawn up in 1852 by a Bradford firm and these still survive in the parish archives. The church was elongated by adding what is now the sanctuary area and the Tempest burial vaults were built under the new High Altar which had a splendid reredos designed by AWN Pugin. The gallery was added in the west end and the porch was also built in 1852. A belfry was built and the bell finally blessed and installed in 1884. However, this was removed at some stage and the belfry substantially levelled to its present state. Perhaps the bell was removed to the Convent and hung in its belfry. The church is now flanked on the north side by the cemetery which leads down to the old Presbytery and School building. On the south side is St Monica's Convent and the parish lawn with it's Lourdes grotto. From the church, there is a commanding view across Skipton towards Lothersdale. Beautiful as this church and its surroundings are, it stands first and foremost as a witness to the dedication and faith of generations Christians and a reminder of what the baptised are called to be. "Father, your house is a house of prayer, and your presence makes it a place of blessing. You give us grace upon grace to build the temple of your Spirit, creating its beauty from the holiness of our lives..." - from the Preface for the Dedication of a Church
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Skipton's Catholic church is named in honour of St
Stephen, the first Christian martyr. 