History of Our Parish
Brief sketch
This is a brief sketch of our parish's history. Further details can be found in a booklet covering the years 1995-2005.
In the late 1800s, Acomb was a village on the outskirts of York. With industrialisation the city spread, with Acomb becoming a suburb of York in 1937.
Catholics in the area attended English Martyrs Church on Dalton Terrace, but it was clear that Acomb's growth necessitated a new parish, a hope delayed by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Since the Catholic community prioritised the education of its children, the first Masses of a fledgling parish were celebrated in a primary school in Front Street from 1941. This Mass centre was served by the priests from English Martyrs Church, and for over a decade parishioners raised money for a new church building in Acomb.
In 1954 the parish of Our Lady's, Acomb, was established, with Father Edward Ward its first priest. In February that year the foundation stone was laid by the Bishop of Leeds (Acomb was in his diocese at that time), the Right Reverend John Carmel Heenan (who would go on to become Cardinal Heenan, Archbishop of Westminster).
Though the scarcity of building supplies after the war meant that ambitious plans had to be curtailed, on 25th March 1955 (feast of The Annunciation), the present church was opened, and the parish house a few months later.
In 1956 Green Hammerton became part of Our Lady's parish, extending its area to nearly 200 square miles; in 1960 Father Ward decided to find a site for a new chapel of ease in that area, and the following year the parish purchased what became St. Joseph's Church in Green Hammerton. The church was closed by the diocese in 2022 as it no longer met health and safety requirements.
In the 1960s Our Lady's was reordered to follow the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1982 the parish was transferred from Leeds Diocese to Middlesbrough Diocese.
In 2015 the pastoral care of the parish was entrusted by the Bishop of Middlesbrough to the British Province of Carmelites, with Carmelite friar Fr. Kevin Melody, O.Carm., appointed parish priest. He was succeeded in 2017 by Carmelite friar Fr. Antony (Tony) Lester, O.Carm., and when Tony transferred from the Order to the Diocese of Middlesbrough in 2019 the Carmelites no longer had pastoral responsibility.
In the late 1800s, Acomb was a village on the outskirts of York. With industrialisation the city spread, with Acomb becoming a suburb of York in 1937.
Catholics in the area attended English Martyrs Church on Dalton Terrace, but it was clear that Acomb's growth necessitated a new parish, a hope delayed by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Since the Catholic community prioritised the education of its children, the first Masses of a fledgling parish were celebrated in a primary school in Front Street from 1941. This Mass centre was served by the priests from English Martyrs Church, and for over a decade parishioners raised money for a new church building in Acomb.
In 1954 the parish of Our Lady's, Acomb, was established, with Father Edward Ward its first priest. In February that year the foundation stone was laid by the Bishop of Leeds (Acomb was in his diocese at that time), the Right Reverend John Carmel Heenan (who would go on to become Cardinal Heenan, Archbishop of Westminster).
Though the scarcity of building supplies after the war meant that ambitious plans had to be curtailed, on 25th March 1955 (feast of The Annunciation), the present church was opened, and the parish house a few months later.
In 1956 Green Hammerton became part of Our Lady's parish, extending its area to nearly 200 square miles; in 1960 Father Ward decided to find a site for a new chapel of ease in that area, and the following year the parish purchased what became St. Joseph's Church in Green Hammerton. The church was closed by the diocese in 2022 as it no longer met health and safety requirements.
In the 1960s Our Lady's was reordered to follow the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1982 the parish was transferred from Leeds Diocese to Middlesbrough Diocese.
In 2015 the pastoral care of the parish was entrusted by the Bishop of Middlesbrough to the British Province of Carmelites, with Carmelite friar Fr. Kevin Melody, O.Carm., appointed parish priest. He was succeeded in 2017 by Carmelite friar Fr. Antony (Tony) Lester, O.Carm., and when Tony transferred from the Order to the Diocese of Middlesbrough in 2019 the Carmelites no longer had pastoral responsibility.
Clergy of the parish
Parish priests
Father Edward Ward |
1954 - 1958 |
Father Leo Walsh |
1958- 1963 |
Father Tom Maudslay |
1963 - 1969 |
Father Patrick Kelly |
1969 - 1977 |
Father Anthony Wilkinson |
1977 - 1984 |
Father Michael Ryan |
1984 - 1999 |
Father Patrick Smith |
1999 - 2013 |
Father John Lumley |
2013 - 2014 |
Father Kevin Melody, O.Carm. |
2015- 2017 |
Father Antony Lester |
2017 - |
Assistant priests and other pastoral support
Father Dermot O'Connor |
1956 -1958 |
Father Philip Kelly |
1958 - 1963 |
Father John Murphy |
1963 - 1970 |
Father Kevin Thornton |
1970 - 1976 |
Father Tony Wilson |
1976 - 1979 |
Father John Berry |
1980 - 1982 |
Father Gerry Dasey |
1982 - 1985 |
Father Jerry Twomey |
1985 - 1989 |
Father Eamon Kellegher |
1989 - 1990 |
Father Terry Dougherty |
1990 |
Father Bill East |
1994 - 2000 |
Father Gerard Walsh, O.Carm. |
2015 - 2017 |
Deacons
Reverend Peter Warren |
2014 - |
