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St Stephen's Church, Skipton Virtual Tour - Nave Features |
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>> Introduction > Exterior > Nave & Gallery > Sanctuary > Side chapel > Convent <<
The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was popularised by the Redemptorist priests and the Catholic devotion called a Novena (nine consecutive days of prayer) was in vogue in the 19th century. This is a copy of the miraculous icon that is housed in the Redemptorist Fathers' church in Rome. It is painted in oils on wood and gilt. In addition the image of Our Lady and Jesus is crowned with small crowns. Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is the Patroness of the Diocese of Leeds which was erected in 1878. This icon was blessed by Pope Leo XIII and unveiled here by Bishop Cornthwaite, the first Bishop of Leeds in 1885. The shrine was erected in memory of Baldisaro Porri. Mrs Fattorini shared the cost of erecting this memorial with Mr Charles Porri. The shrine is the form of a tryptich (3 panelled piece). The wings are closed in Passiontide but are otherwise open to display the oils of St Stephen and St Monica, patrons of the parish. A lovely brass candelabra in the shape of a quatrefoil for votive candles is placed before this icon.
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This
shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is found on the North side of the
nave almost immediately as you emerge from under the gallery. It is
between the second and third windows on this side. 
The seven statues of saints line the nave as visible reminders of the communion of saints. They have been added over the years and each of them commemorate someone linked to the church. On the North side:
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St Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits served in this church from 1853 - 1914.
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St Patrick, apostle of Ireland. This was donated by the McGlincy family. John McGlincy was the only Catholic in Skipton when he arrived from Ireland in 1812 and he was employed as a gardener at Broughton Hall. Together with Balidisaro Porri, he persuaded Charles Tempest to build the church.
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St Michael the Archangel. In 1904 Pope Pius X added a prayer to the saint to be said after every Low Mass and no doubt, devotion to St Michael was in vogue at the turn of the 20th century.
On the South side:
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St Richard of Chichester. The Myers family who have been active parishioners since the church opened in 1842 donated this statue in memory of Fr Richard Sharp SJ who died in 1914.
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St John the Evangelist, a popular saint because of his closeness to Christ. In the Gospels he is called the Beloved Disciple.
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St Peter. This was donated by the Butler family. St Peter was often depicted in Catholic churches as a sign of fidelity to the See of Rome which the Pope is bishop of. St Peter was the first Bishop of Rome.
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St Francis Xavier, a Jesuit saint and apostle to the Indies. Francis was also a Tempest name.
