Mother of God and St Wilfrid, Sheffield

Introduction

The church building was originally Abbeydale Congregational Church, opened on 7th March 1901 with capacity for 800 worshippers.

History

The parish was established as a mission from St Marie's in 1879, dedicated to St Wilfrid, with land and finances donated by Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk. Mass was first celebrated in the St Wilfrid's chapel on 15th October 1879 by Bishop Cornthwaite of Leeds. The original St Wilfrid's chapel and school were destroyed by fire during the Sheffield Blitz on the night of 12th-13th December 1940. On the day of the new church's opening, the Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession from the old St Wilfrid's chapel to the new church. The original St Wilfrid's site on Shoreham Street was definitively closed in 1984.

Architecture and furnishings

In 1980, renovations costing £100,000 included sandblasting the exterior, blocking the chancel arch, repositioning the altar, removing two side altars, and adding a new chapel extension. Fourteen Stations of the Cross ring the walls of the nave. The Churches Together in Abbeydale banner was made by parishioner Mary Canty and is carried in the Walk of Witness on Good Friday.

Parish life

Women@MOG supports parish events and each other, meeting monthly. A Welcomers Rota greets people as they come into church and gives them Mass sheets.

The parish community originally included Irish and Italian families who had settled in the area. The post-war years brought new waves of Catholic immigration to Sheffield from Poland, Malta, India and the West Indies. In 2017, a residential project called St Wilfrid's Place was added next door, providing apartments to adults with a history of homelessness.

Sheffield Lay Carmel meets on the second Saturday every month, commencing with a Mass. The parish is associated with institutions including the Michael Carlisle Centre and St Wilfrid's Centre.

Regular events

A Mothers Prayers Group prays for children and grandchildren, meeting fortnightly in members' homes. The SVP group supports the housebound and meets weekly.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Parents arranging baptism for their first child must attend a preparation session. A Confirmation preparation course takes place every two years, aimed at children in secondary school.

Visiting

The porch is the area between the outside doors and the inner doors, where the faithful greet one another before and after Mass, and where baptisms, funerals and weddings begin. The Easter (Paschal) candle is a large candle located near the baptismal font, lit for every baptism. Statues of Our Lady and the Sacred Heart are present in the church.