St. Peter (Parish of St Mary)

Introduction

Dr J. Robert Cowgill, Bishop of Leeds, pontificated at the opening of the new Saint Peter's on 27 June 1933, after the foundation stone was laid in 1932. During the war, when Saint Peter's was only seven years old, a bomb struck the church directly and caused catastrophic damage even though it failed to explode.

History

Canon Simpson opened a new school and chapel in 1906 beside the old site, once the earlier school and chapel had become too small. Father P. J. Ennis became the first parish priest when Dr J. Robert Cowgill, Bishop of Leeds, canonically erected Saint Peter's as a parish on 7 November 1921.

The parish priest, in office only a few months and later made Canon, had to rescue the church and parish together with the curates. A local newspaper first reported damage so severe that the church would have to be demolished, and a later survey found demolition was not needed. The priests raised £2,000 within a few months, and by Christmas 1940 Saint Peter's was restored and fully open, while later war damage waited until after the war. The high altar occupies a circular apse arranged in keeping with the Romanesque architecture.

Architecture and furnishings

An enriched arcade surrounds the reredos, which is veneered walnut. Onyx marble and Hopton wood are the materials of the altar. Saint Peter's contains two other altars, two side chapels and a baptistry. A choir gallery and organ sit above the narthex.

Symbolic capitals appear on the pillars, and the leaded-light windows are fitted in green terra cotta. Solid oak benches follow a plain serviceable design.

Parish life

The parish boundary covers a large area of East and South Bradford, from Canal Road in the north to Chain Bar Roundabout in the south and Bowling in the west. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the parish is committed to combatting poverty, tackling isolation, providing support and offering sincere friendship to people in local communities. The parish runs a Children's Liturgy offering children the opportunity to listen and respond to the Sunday Gospel at an age-appropriate level. The parish is committed to the Bradford Faith Trail, deepening understanding and mutual respect between people of differing faiths to help build resilient communities of hope within Bradford.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Sacramental preparation is usually organised by the parish with the support of the local Catholic primary school. Adults wishing to be received into the Catholic Church or receive missed sacraments are directed to see the parish priest after Mass or contact the parish office. Preparation for all three sacraments is held at St Columba's church.