York Oratory

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.[5] It was eventually built over and the parish united with Saint Michael le Belfry. Saint Wilfrid's parish was revived by York Catholics in 1742 when they established their Mission in Little Blake Street. The Mission was founded by the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England, Edward Dicconson.

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]

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 Lendal and part of the Assembly Rooms behind in Blake Street. In 1848, plans were drawn up to build a new church. The funds, however, were diverted to build a much needed church in the Walmgate area for the large number of Irish Catholics who settled there during the Great Famine. Saint George's Church was built and it became the Pro-Cathedral of the Catholic diocese of Beverley.

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 Leeds (south of the River Ouse) and of Middlesbrough (north of the river). The Church of St Wilfrid is often known by Catholics as the “Mother Church of the City of York”, since its history connects it to the first, hidden revival of the Catholic faith in this city.[6]

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 Bishop Cornthwaite. The present church was completed in 1864 for the sum of £10,000. It was opened by Cardinal Wiseman in June 1864. It was considered to be "one of the most perfectly finished Catholic Churches in England, rich in sculpture, stained glass and fittings".[5] Part of the porch way, believed to belong to the original Saint Wilfrid's Church, was found under the floor of the Assembly Rooms during the 19th century renovations.

The church became a grade II listed building in 1968.

Furnishings

Interior of the Oratory Church of Saint Wilfrid

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]

Rear of the church, seen from the garden

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 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]

The church's rectory is in Petergate House.[16] 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.

• Petergate House
• More House

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Wilfrid's RC Church, Duncombe Place, York.

• Official website - York Oratory
• St Wilfrid's RC School, York
• Oratory of Saint Philip Neri - Procurator General (Rome)
• Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1257869)". National Heritage List for England.
• St. Wilfrid's, BBC Radio 4 "Bells on Sunday", September 2019