Our Lady and St. Benedict
  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
    • Church opening times
  • Newsletters
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday 2022
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of the Year
    • Fourth Sunday of the Year
    • Third Sunday of the Year
    • Second Sunday of the Year
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday of Christmas
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday
    • 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Newsletters Archived >
      • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
      • Thirty third Sunday
      • Thirty second Sunday
      • All Saints
      • Thirtieth Sunday
      • Twenty-ninth Sunday
      • Twenty-eighth Sunday
      • Twenty-seventh Sunday
      • Twenty-sixth Sunday
      • Twenty-fifth Sunday
      • Twenty Fourth Sunday
      • Twenty-third Sunday
      • Twenty-second Sunday
      • Twenty-first Sunday
      • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
      • Nineteenth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • Seventeenth Sunday
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • Fifteenth Sunday
      • Fourteenth Sunday
      • Twelfth Sunday
      • Thirteenth Sunday
      • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • The Most Holy Trinity
      • Pentecost Sunday
      • Seventh Sunday of Easter
      • Third Sunday of Easter
      • Second Sunday of Advent
      • Fourth Sunday of Lent
      • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • St Peter & St Paul
      • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
      • Trinity Sunday
      • Sixth Sunday of Easter
      • Fourth Sunday of Easter
      • The Presentation of the Lord
      • The Baptism of the Lord
      • The Epiphany of the Lord
      • Fourth Sunday of Advent
      • First Sunday of Advent
      • Thirty-third Sunday
      • Thirty-first Sunday
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Twenty-fourth Sunday
      • Twentieth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • St John the Baptist
      • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Outreach
    • Ukrainian Help & Support
    • Justice & Peace
    • Lend With Care
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mary Sturges history with Zimbabwe
      • Zimbabwe thank you notes
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
    • Historic Outreach >
      • Climate Change Zoom event 24/04/21
      • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
      • Fundraising event for Mary’s Meals 03/10/2021
  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
  • Gallery
    • Parish BBQ 2021
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • Church 2016
    • Rievaulx Pilgrimage 2014
    • Photos from early 1900's
  • Forms
  • Contact us
  • Church fees 2022
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Cemetery Protocols
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links
  • 100 Club Winners
  • Archive
    • Caristas Newsletter
    • Homilies >
      • Twenty-third Sunday
      • Twenty-second Sunday
      • Thirty-first Sunday
      • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
      • Nineteenth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • Seventeenth Sunday
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • Fifteenth Sunday Yr B
      • Fourteenth Sunday
      • St Peter & St Paul
      • Thirteenth Sunday
      • Twelfth Sunday
      • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • The Most Holy Trinity
      • Pentecost Sunday
      • Seventh Sunday of Easter
      • The Ascension of the Lord
      • Sixth Sunday of Easter
      • Fifth Sunday of Easter
      • Fourth Sunday of Easter
      • Third Sunday of Easter
      • Second Sunday of Easter
      • Homily; Maundy Thursday 2021
      • Homily; Good Friday 2021
      • Homily; Easter Vigil & Easter Day 2021
      • Palm Sunday
      • Fifth Sunday of Lent
      • Fourth Sunday of Lent
      • Third Sunday of Lent
      • Second Sunday of Lent
      • First Sunday of Lent
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Baptism of Our Lord
      • Epiphany of the Lord
      • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
      • Christmas Midnight Mass
      • Fourth Sunday of Advent
      • Third Sunday of Advent
      • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
      • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
      • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
      • Thirty-third Sunday
      • Thirty-second Sunday
      • All Souls
      • All Saints
      • Thirtieth Sunday
      • Twenty-ninth Sunday
      • Twenty-eighth Sunday
      • Twenty seventh Sunday
      • Twenty-sixth Sunday
      • Twenty-fifth Sunday
      • Twenty Fourth Sunday
      • Nineteenth Sunday
      • Seventeenth Sunday
      • Trinity Sunday
      • Homily for Tuesday Wk 6 Easter
      • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • The Presentation of the Lord
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Holy Family
      • Mary Mother of God
      • Second Sunday of Advent
      • First Sunday of Advent
      • Remembrance Sunday
      • Twenty-fourth Sunday
      • Twentieth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
      • Seventh Sunday of Easter
      • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Thirteenth Sunday
      • St John the Baptist
      • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Transfiguration of the Lord
      • Cemetery Mass
    • Knitting for Refugees
    • Rosa Ampleforth

Our Church History

Our Lady and St Benedict’s Church was built by Ampleforth Abbey to serve Ampleforth Village.  The Church was dedicated on 17 May 1907.  The Church is built in a simple lancet Gothic style, of local stone under a slate roof.  As originally built it appears to have consisted of a long nave with continuous Chancel and Sacristy beyond.  There is a triple lancet window and a raised bell cote at the west end and paired lancet windows lighting the sides of the Chancel.  In 1988 the Church was substantially but seamlessly enlarged, with transepts and low squat towers added on the north and south side, in matching materials and style.  The towers each have a louvred top stage and pyramidal roof; the main entrance to the church is through a porch in the north tower.  

Inside the transept additions create what is effectively a Greek cross plan.  The seating consists of free standing oak benches arranged around a forward stone altar, the latter installed as part of the 1988 reordering and extension.  However, the dominant feature of the interior is the painting over the former high altar (the original oak reredos survives and incorporates a shelf for the tabernacle with a canopy over.  The painting depicts Christ enthroned and adored by figures of Our Lady and St Joseph, St Benedict, St Dominic, and two other figures.  It was painted by Br. Philip Jarvis in the Summer of 1915, when he was a novice in the Ampleforth Abbey Community.  

From the nearby village of Kilburn, a young man by the name of Robert Thompson was asked by Fr. Paul Neville in 1919 to make a crucifix of oak for the village Churchyard.  It was his first commission, and the crucifix still stands in the Churchyard: 'Mouseman'' Thompson's first commissioned work..  The Church is entered via a panelled oak door from the Mouseman studio, given in memory of Fr. Paul who was Parish Priest in Ampleforth 1914-24.

In 1932, during Fr. Ignatius Miller’s time as Parish Priest, and for its Silver Jubilee, two stained glass windows of St. Anselm and St Oswald were inserted on either side of the altar.

Fr. Aelred Graham asked the Sculptor and Refugee from Austria, Joseph Heu, to make a statue of Our Lady for the Church in 1945.   Robert Thompson provided the oak for the large statue of the Madonna holding the Christ child.  It stands in the south transept of the Church.
 
In 1957 a new bell by Taylor of Loughborough was blessed and named ‘Hubert’ by Abbot Byrne.  At the same time, a new sanctuary lamp and stand for the statue of the Madonna and Child were installed.

A thunderstorm in 1986 caused considerable damage to the Church when lightning struck the west end tower.  Whilst repairs were being made, and the Church reordered in line with the Constitution of Sacred Liturgy issued in 1966, Mass was celebrated in St Hilda’s Church of England Church nearby.  Our Lady and St Benedict's was reopened and dedicated by Cardinal Basil Hume on 8 December 1987. 
Website by Gabriel Media Limited
  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
    • Church opening times
  • Newsletters
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday 2022
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of the Year
    • Fourth Sunday of the Year
    • Third Sunday of the Year
    • Second Sunday of the Year
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday of Christmas
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday
    • 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Newsletters Archived >
      • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
      • Thirty third Sunday
      • Thirty second Sunday
      • All Saints
      • Thirtieth Sunday
      • Twenty-ninth Sunday
      • Twenty-eighth Sunday
      • Twenty-seventh Sunday
      • Twenty-sixth Sunday
      • Twenty-fifth Sunday
      • Twenty Fourth Sunday
      • Twenty-third Sunday
      • Twenty-second Sunday
      • Twenty-first Sunday
      • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
      • Nineteenth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • Seventeenth Sunday
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • Fifteenth Sunday
      • Fourteenth Sunday
      • Twelfth Sunday
      • Thirteenth Sunday
      • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • The Most Holy Trinity
      • Pentecost Sunday
      • Seventh Sunday of Easter
      • Third Sunday of Easter
      • Second Sunday of Advent
      • Fourth Sunday of Lent
      • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • St Peter & St Paul
      • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
      • Trinity Sunday
      • Sixth Sunday of Easter
      • Fourth Sunday of Easter
      • The Presentation of the Lord
      • The Baptism of the Lord
      • The Epiphany of the Lord
      • Fourth Sunday of Advent
      • First Sunday of Advent
      • Thirty-third Sunday
      • Thirty-first Sunday
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Twenty-fourth Sunday
      • Twentieth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • St John the Baptist
      • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Outreach
    • Ukrainian Help & Support
    • Justice & Peace
    • Lend With Care
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mary Sturges history with Zimbabwe
      • Zimbabwe thank you notes
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
    • Historic Outreach >
      • Climate Change Zoom event 24/04/21
      • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
      • Fundraising event for Mary’s Meals 03/10/2021
  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
  • Gallery
    • Parish BBQ 2021
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • Church 2016
    • Rievaulx Pilgrimage 2014
    • Photos from early 1900's
  • Forms
  • Contact us
  • Church fees 2022
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Cemetery Protocols
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links
  • 100 Club Winners
  • Archive
    • Caristas Newsletter
    • Homilies >
      • Twenty-third Sunday
      • Twenty-second Sunday
      • Thirty-first Sunday
      • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
      • Nineteenth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • Seventeenth Sunday
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • Fifteenth Sunday Yr B
      • Fourteenth Sunday
      • St Peter & St Paul
      • Thirteenth Sunday
      • Twelfth Sunday
      • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • The Most Holy Trinity
      • Pentecost Sunday
      • Seventh Sunday of Easter
      • The Ascension of the Lord
      • Sixth Sunday of Easter
      • Fifth Sunday of Easter
      • Fourth Sunday of Easter
      • Third Sunday of Easter
      • Second Sunday of Easter
      • Homily; Maundy Thursday 2021
      • Homily; Good Friday 2021
      • Homily; Easter Vigil & Easter Day 2021
      • Palm Sunday
      • Fifth Sunday of Lent
      • Fourth Sunday of Lent
      • Third Sunday of Lent
      • Second Sunday of Lent
      • First Sunday of Lent
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Baptism of Our Lord
      • Epiphany of the Lord
      • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
      • Christmas Midnight Mass
      • Fourth Sunday of Advent
      • Third Sunday of Advent
      • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
      • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
      • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
      • Thirty-third Sunday
      • Thirty-second Sunday
      • All Souls
      • All Saints
      • Thirtieth Sunday
      • Twenty-ninth Sunday
      • Twenty-eighth Sunday
      • Twenty seventh Sunday
      • Twenty-sixth Sunday
      • Twenty-fifth Sunday
      • Twenty Fourth Sunday
      • Nineteenth Sunday
      • Seventeenth Sunday
      • Trinity Sunday
      • Homily for Tuesday Wk 6 Easter
      • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • The Presentation of the Lord
      • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Holy Family
      • Mary Mother of God
      • Second Sunday of Advent
      • First Sunday of Advent
      • Remembrance Sunday
      • Twenty-fourth Sunday
      • Twentieth Sunday
      • Eighteenth Sunday
      • Sixteenth Sunday
      • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
      • Seventh Sunday of Easter
      • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Thirteenth Sunday
      • St John the Baptist
      • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
      • Transfiguration of the Lord
      • Cemetery Mass
    • Knitting for Refugees
    • Rosa Ampleforth