Bit delayed posting this but thought better late than never! 
Mount St Marys Church is a grade two (star) listed building that was opened in 1857-now 151 years ago! It closed in 1989 mainly due to dwindling church attendance, now it stands abandoned & on deconsecrated land some 19 years later. It is built high on the summit of the Richmond Hill area of Leeds & can reputedly be seen for miles around.
Dubbed locally as ‘The Famine Church’ after the Irish community (who were still recovering from the Irish potato crop failure after six successive years from 1845-1851) who were centred in Leeds in this area raised the funds to build this cathedral sized church. There were many other community establishments here too-schools, care for the sick & poor, an orphnage & of course the church, so important amongst the catholic people. There was a plan (& a fund established) around 1916 to build two massive western tower blocks but however none were ever built.
The church is now due to be partly converted/mostly demolished! The naive & aisles are to be knocked down to build a seven storey block of 62.......FLATS! The chapel & transepts (designed 1n 1866 by architect Edward Pugin) will be retained & restored. The presbytery will be knocked down & replaced by a five storey block of 109.......FLATS!
The church despite the best efforts of thieves, vandals & pigeons is in remarkably good condition (too good to just knock part of it down!) with many original features remaining. The presbytery is in a poor & dangerous state due to fire & water egress & it’s a shame to see it this way.
All in all a wonderfully BIG church, dangerous presbytery & fantastic photo opportunities! Cheers.
A view of the outside
Looking along the full length of the nave
Five sets of confessional booths along the eastern aisle
Part of the alter end looking upwards towards the wonderful ceiling
Another view of the ceiling
Looking accross the alter end
The ceiling above one of the transcepts-lovely colours here!
Looking out from one of the side chambers accross the nave towards the confessional booths
A view around 15 feet up one of the pillars!
Some of the ornate carvings still remaining
A few shots from the presbytery
Finally some detail from inside the church...
Cheers for looking!
Mount St Marys Church is a grade two (star) listed building that was opened in 1857-now 151 years ago! It closed in 1989 mainly due to dwindling church attendance, now it stands abandoned & on deconsecrated land some 19 years later. It is built high on the summit of the Richmond Hill area of Leeds & can reputedly be seen for miles around.
Dubbed locally as ‘The Famine Church’ after the Irish community (who were still recovering from the Irish potato crop failure after six successive years from 1845-1851) who were centred in Leeds in this area raised the funds to build this cathedral sized church. There were many other community establishments here too-schools, care for the sick & poor, an orphnage & of course the church, so important amongst the catholic people. There was a plan (& a fund established) around 1916 to build two massive western tower blocks but however none were ever built.
The church is now due to be partly converted/mostly demolished! The naive & aisles are to be knocked down to build a seven storey block of 62.......FLATS! The chapel & transepts (designed 1n 1866 by architect Edward Pugin) will be retained & restored. The presbytery will be knocked down & replaced by a five storey block of 109.......FLATS!
The church despite the best efforts of thieves, vandals & pigeons is in remarkably good condition (too good to just knock part of it down!) with many original features remaining. The presbytery is in a poor & dangerous state due to fire & water egress & it’s a shame to see it this way.
All in all a wonderfully BIG church, dangerous presbytery & fantastic photo opportunities! Cheers.
A view of the outside
Looking along the full length of the nave
Five sets of confessional booths along the eastern aisle
Part of the alter end looking upwards towards the wonderful ceiling
Another view of the ceiling
Looking accross the alter end
The ceiling above one of the transcepts-lovely colours here!
Looking out from one of the side chambers accross the nave towards the confessional booths
A view around 15 feet up one of the pillars!
Some of the ornate carvings still remaining
A few shots from the presbytery
Finally some detail from inside the church...
Cheers for looking!
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