‘Christmas as usual’ … in Batley, celebrating St Mary’s 150th Anniversary!

The Church of St Mary of the Angels in Batley is celebrating one and a half centuries of ‘Christmas as usual’ with an Online Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 20 December at 3pm!

This is a very special time for the church, which was dedicated on 15 December 1870 and is the home of our annual Batley Torchlight Procession. Many plans had been made to mark the 150th Anniversary but have had to be put on hold, including a Mass which was to have been celebrated by Bishop Marcus on the morning of 20 December.

Thanks to several parishioners and their Parish Priest, Fr Eamonn Hegarty, an online Christmas Carol Service will be broadcast via the Parish website www.stmarybatley.co.uk to mark this very important milestone.

Bishop Marcus has sent a wonderful message of congratulations and encouragement to the Parish, and he and Fr Eamonn welcome ALL members of our Diocesan Family to join St Mary’s 150th Anniversary Carol Service from 3pm on Sunday 20 December and throughout the Christmas Season.