The Parish is a Church of England Parish in
the Deanery of Whitkirk and the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds.
The Parish is a Team Ministry. That means the clergy (the Rector, the Team Vicar and the Curate) and groups of lay people share the pastoral care, the responsibility for worship and education and mission.
The Parish has a population of 16000 people and is effectively a suburb of Leeds based on three former mining villages: Kippax, Allerton Bywater and Great Preston. There are two Churches in the parish: St Mary at Kippax and St Mary with St Aidan at Allerton Bywater.
A new Saturday evening worship was launched
on Saturday 20th August 2005. This was preceded by a week of
children’s activities attended by about thirty children. We now have children’s
activities from 5.00pm to 6.00pm every Saturday followed by an informal
Eucharist with varied forms of music and a mixture of traditional and modern
hymns.
Our main Sunday worship is a Parish Communion using Order One of the New Common Worship Services of the Church of England, with a mixture of traditional and modern music. Children are welcome. Everyone, adults and children, is invited to have communion whether confirmed or not or communicants members from other churches. We also offer the opportunity to receive a blessing for those who do not wish to receive communion.
During the week we have a relaxed and
intimate said Holy Communion on Tuesday at St Mary, Kippax and on Wednesday at
St Mary with St Aidan, Allerton Bywater.
Home Communion is also arranged for those who are sick or are housebound.
For the bereaved of the parish there will a Memorial service around All Souls day and there is a visiting team who can make time to listen and talk if you wish.
There is also the opportunity to pray privately and light a candle every Friday morning: St Mary, Kippax, is open every Friday 9.30am to 12.00 noon and St Mary the Less with St Aidan from 10.00am to 12.00 noon.
The Parish Office at Kippax is open every Tuesday from 7.30pm to 8.00pm for those living in the parish wishing to arrange weddings. Parents or carers wishing to arrange for baptisms should speak to the clergy in Church after the Sunday worship.
If you are wanting to know more about any aspect of Christian faith and practice from basic information to more in depth understanding, we have groups working at various stages. The clergy will advise you.
For
parents and pre-school children we have a short act of worship (called First
Steps) at 10.00am every Thursday: First
and third Thursday at Kippax
Second
and fourth Thursday at Allerton Bywater
This is followed by an opportunity to have coffee and meet friends.
The day to day costs of the church are financed entirely from those who come and local fund raising. If you wish to help with this contact the Churchwardens or the Planned Giving Officer.
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Rector: |
The Reverend Bruce Carlin |
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Team Vicar: |
The Reverend Jean Sykes |
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Curate: |
The Revd Mandy
Rhodes |
Please contact the clergy for any further information.
St Mary's Kippax is the most dramatic example of the Yorkshire group of Norman Churches characterised by their herringbone pattern masonry. It is a Grade 1 listed building dating from the late 11th century. It is of a simple plan - aisleless nave, west tower and chancel - but of substantial size, standing on a hilltop close to the earthworks of a castle (probably wooden). The original windows were small and round headed, and in the Anglo Saxon tradition of being set high in the wall, three of which remain the others having been replaced after a fire in around 1300. For more detail click here
The remains of a roughly carved Saxon Cross,
discovered during a recent reordering, are now fixed to wall of the chancel
arch. The figure either represents the Resurrection of our Lord or Daniel in
the Lions Den another favourite subject of the time.
History of St Mary the Less, Allerton Bywater
The foundation for the church was laid in 1863 by Mrs Bland of Kippax Park. Bishop Bickerstilt consecrated it on August 10 th 1865. A lydgate was erected to the memory of Hugh Smithson, the manager of the local colliery. Originally there were eight bells, dedicated in June 1920 to mark the signing of the Peace on June 28th 1919. There is now only one bell in the bell cote.
The stained glass windows include one to Revd James Bell,
the vicar for thirty-three years. The east window was erected by Revd Edward
Davison Bland of Kippax Park. The three lights remember the Kippax vicars,
Charles Bickerdike (1828-1888) and John Davison Bland. The west window
was to Edward Longbottom (1910). Some of the stained glass came from the closed
church of St Aidan, Great Preston. The oak pulpit and the brass lectern were
dedicated on March 31st 1919. The credence table was given in memory
of Peter Moody (died 1939), and the sanctuary in which the table is placed was
renovated with a bequest from Revd Charles Hutchinson. It was dedicated by the
Bishop of Knaresborough on December 3rd 1966.
Services
Saturday Sunday |
6.00pm 9.00 am |
Parish Eucharist at St Mary, Kippax. Parish Eucharist at St. Mary with St Aidan, Allerton Bywater. |
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10.30 am |
Parish Eucharist at St Mary, Kippax |
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Tuesday |
10.00 am |
Parish Eucharist at St Mary, Kippax |
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Wednesday |
7.00 pm |
Parish Eucharist at St Mary with St Aidan, Allerton Bywater |
Daily Prayer (at
St Mary, Kippax) is said
everyday at 9.30am
Anyone is welcome.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this website,
please contact the administrator at: websitekeeper@stmarykippax.org.uk
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