Ripon’s St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church is looking forward to a £500,000 refurbishment, but is still welcoming worshippers back.
St Wilfrid is inextricably linked to Ripon’s ancient Cathedral, but less than a mile away, another architectural gem of later vintage, also bears the name of the city’s patron saint.
St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, which opened in 1862, is recognised as one of finest parish churches in England, with ornate reredos designed by Victorian architect Edwin Pugin providing dramatic backdrops to the high altar and adjacent side altar, dedicated to St Joseph.
Both architectural works of art, sculpted from solid blocks of stone, provide focal points within the Grade II* Listed Building.
St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, on Coltsgate Hill, Ripon
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Now, more than 50 years after the church’s last major refurbishment, the reredos, along with other parts of the building’s fabric, are in need of expert repair and cleaning by specialists, which will be paid for out of a £500,000 fund raised by the parish over the past five years.
Before the work can go ahead, the green light is required next month from the Catholic Diocese of Leeds, which owns the building.
Subject to receiving that approval, the restoration and renovation work can proceed.
Parishioner Barrie Price, an accountant and former Ripon City and Harrogate district councillor, who chaired the fundraising appeal, said:
“We have all the planning permissions required for work on a Grade II* Listed building and, importantly, the finance is in place.”
He added:
“We were all ready to go earlier this year, but COVID-19 brought a temporary halt to everything, with the church having to close to meet the government’s social distancing requirements.”
St Wilfrid’s, which serves Ripon, Boroughbridge, Kirkby Malzeard and surrounding rural areas, is welcoming worshippers once more with Mass being said every weekend and each weekday apart from Mondays.
Parish priest Canon Ian Smith, said:
“We have an army of volunteer stewards, whose work has enabled us to reopen and keep the building safe, with hand sanitiser and social distancing measures in place. In addition we are supported by members of the St Vincent de Paul charity, who assist in bringing parishioners with limited mobility to our services.”
He added:
“We look forward to welcoming parishioners and visitors to our celebrations.”
The services are at 9.30am and 5,30pm on Saturdays; 9am and 10.30am on Sundays and weekday Masses are at 9.30am (Tuesdays 9am).
Worshippers wishing to attend the Vigil or Sunday Masses, should email their choice of time to stwilfridripon@gmail.com anyone without email access can call Canon Smith on 01765 279263.