St. Mary & St. Michael

Introduction

The first Catholic chapel opened in Upper Settle in 1864. A permanent chaplaincy served by the Benedictines was established in North Craven at Lawkland Hall around 1650.

History

A larger church was built at the top of Albert Hill in 1883. In 1922 a site was purchased in Craven Terrace with a view to building a new church. A parish hall was erected in 1960. In 1974 the hall was extended and linked to a new presbytery, designed by J. H. Langtry-Langton. The present church contains stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross transferred from the original building.

Parish life

The parish serves much of the Southern Dales part of the National Park, and part of the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The church of St Boniface in Bentham is also served from this parish.

The Settle SVP group makes person-to-person contact by home visits to the sick, the vulnerable and the lonely, and provides material or financial assistance when need is identified. Settle SVP works in close collaboration with Settle Churches Together and many other local organisations. A collection of warm clothes for Syrian refugees organised in the Bentham area was so generous it overwhelmed the church store, and the Diocesan SVP team took away more than 250 sacks.

The parish was presented with the CAFOD LiveSimply award, recognising ways the parish and individuals try to live more simply, more sustainably, and in solidarity with creation. On 29th July 2025 parishioners from Our Lady and St Boniface undertook a Pilgrimage of Hope, walking from Clapham to Feizor, where open air Mass was celebrated, before completing their journey to St Mary & St Michael's church in Settle. On Saturday 24th May 2014, the parish priest at Saint Mary and Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Settle celebrated his Golden Jubilee after 50 years as a priest.

He also served as a member of the International Commission for English in the Liturgy, which involved commuting regularly between London and Washington DC. In August 2014, the parish priest retired from serving Saint Mary and Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Settle and Saint Boniface in Bentham. In September 2014, a new parish priest became responsible for the two parishes of Saint Mary and Saint Michael in Settle and Saint Boniface in Bentham.

Regular events

The Christmas Craft Fair on 7 December 2019 raised £779 for the church and hall restoration fund. The Christmas Craft Fair on 8 December 2018 raised £917 for the church and hall restoration fund. The Christmas Craft Fair on 9 December 2017 raised £610 for the church and hall restoration fund. The Christmas Craft Fair on 3 December 2016 raised £570 for the church and hall restoration fund.

Visiting

A fundraising event with home baking, refreshments, flat cap flinging, tombola, jewellery, cards, books, raffle and 3D printing raised £750 for the church and hall restoration fund. A celebration on 28 October 2016 featured supper, drinks and dancing to the Batty Moss Ceilidh Band. On 14 September 2014 a walk around Halton Gill was organised, followed by afternoon tea and cakes, with proceeds going to the Hall Restoration Fund. On 6 June 2015 the parish SVP Conference helped with the annual SVP 3 Peaks Challenge by providing refreshment points along the 25 mile route starting in Horton in Ribblesdale.