St. Anthony of Padua

Introduction

Saint Anthony of Padua in Leeds is dedicated to the saint, whose statue stands above the main entrance. The church is part of the Parish of St Maximilian Kolbe, alongside St Francis of Assisi in Holbeck.

History

Charles Edward Fox of Dewsbury designed the church in the Decorated Gothic tradition, using red brick with stone detailing. Canon Croskell of St Anne's Cathedral laid the foundation stone on 6 November 1904. Bishop Gordon formally opened the church in 1905. St Anthony's became an independent parish in 1909.

Bishop Cowgill formally consecrated the church in 1934. St Anthony's celebrated its centenary in 2005. In 1984, the sanctuary was reordered and the original marble altar was adapted, with the altar mensa brought forward.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a six-bay nave with aisles, Gothic arches, octagonal columns and a timber roof. In 1966, a new bell tower was added to the south-west corner, designed by George Adkin using contrasting brown brick with a copper-covered pyramidal roof and glazed panels. At the same time, the area beneath the western gallery was enclosed to create a narthex. In 1934, members of the Moorhouse family provided the marble altar and altar rails in memory of their family members.

The sanctuary contains stained glass depicting St Anthony surrounded by angels, while side chapels are dedicated to Our Lady and the Sacred Heart. Surviving historic features include elements of the original oak pulpit, decorated with carved scenes from the New Testament. In 2020, a historic pipe organ originally built in 1893 by Forster and Andrews of Hull was installed in the western gallery. An inaugural recital was held in August 2020.

Parish life

St Anthony's School and the parish are closely linked through the church's long-standing involvement in Catholic education. The parish offers a formation programme running alongside preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Families have used the church for Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, weddings and funerals across generations. The church is situated on Old Lane in Beeston.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Parish Priest visits the sick in hospitals and at home, offering the Sacrament of the Sick. Regular members of the congregation must give five weeks' notice before a baptism formation session. No baptisms are held during the season of Lent.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is administered in the parish or deanery annually. Preparation for Confirmation is undertaken in a collaborative programme in schools and at church, alongside regular Sunday Mass attendance. Adult Confirmation can be arranged, normally celebrated at the Easter Vigil after a period of formation. The parish runs an RCIA course for those interested in being baptised or received into the Catholic Church.