Our Lady Immaculate

Introduction

Fr Hammond planned to build a new church on the hill overlooking Pateley Bridge near the medieval church of St Mary, a grange chapel of Fountains Abbey suppressed in 1539.

History

About 1924, Fr Herbert Hammond cycled from Harrogate to Scar village to say Mass and told Mrs Margaret Faulkner he would gladly offer Mass in Pateley on his way to Scar if he could find a place. Later in 1928, Fr Hammond moved to Grassfield House on the Ramsgill Road, where he had a chapel downstairs and a flat above.

Architecture and furnishings

The interior has a wide two-centred moulded stone arch without capitals marking the entrance to the sanctuary, and four modern glass light pendants with frosted and etched designs of the evangelists commissioned for the Golden Jubilee. The nave has a central alley flanked by wooden pews, is open to the roof, and has simple painted walls highlighting stone window surrounds.

The altar was adapted from the original altar that had stood against the back wall and was removed from the church in 1959. A banner was made with other churches as part of a Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Project in June 1998.

Regular events

On the feast of St Theresa, 2nd October 1934, the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Cowgill, assisted by four-year-old Pam Faulkner. In September 1935, Fr Hammond performed the opening of the new church, with the Blessed Sacrament carried in procession from Grassfield House to the new church. In October 1984, the church was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Wheeler on the 50th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone by Bishop Cowgill in 1934.