In September 1872, the first Norbertine Priest, Fr Francis Martin Geudens, arrived in Crowle. In 1890, the Norbertine Canons were asked to take care of the people in the immediate area of Thorne, Moorends, Stainforth and the surrounding villages and towns.
In the early days (1923) a Norbertine Canon would travel from Crowle on a motorbike to celebrate mass at the home of Mrs Higgins, who lived in Stanley Gardens, Stainforth. This mass was conducted in Latin and the congregation amounted to about 12. Later that year, the West Riding School, on Thorne Road was built, and mass was celebrated in a small room within the school.
As the congregation got a little bigger, Sunday mass, was moved to the Market Hall, Stainforth Market Place, Field Road, Fr Magarity would attend from Crowle, bringing with him the bread and wine. The Mass was still celebrated in Latin; however, a fiddle was played to accompany the singing of hymns.
In 1929, the owners of Hatfield Main Colliery leased the land off East Lane, for a period of 99 years, stating that it should be used for the building of a church and associated buildings. Subsequently, in January 1929, permission was granted to build a Catholic Mission Hall, on completion the building was named The Catholic Club. (now the Small Hall)
In December 1930, Fr Esser came to Stainforth to be our first resident priest, living at the presbytery situated at that time in Thomas Rd, Stainforth. Fr Esser, spoke 7 languages, which were of particular use to him after the influx of foreigners after the war seeking work at Hatfield Main Colliery. He was also a pupil of the painter Sir Frank Brangwyn
In 1931, the parish of Stainforth was founded by the Diocese of Leeds. It was originally called St Mary's, but had to be changed, because a church of the same name, the Church of England church, already existed in Stainforth.
A church was built in the grounds of the present church, near the site of the present Large Hall, this church was pre-fabricated and brought by rail to Stainforth Rialway Station, where it was transported along East Lane, and later erected by members of the Armed Forces. Its construction was mainly of wood, and so became known as the "Wooden Church"
In 1941, Fr Esser moved into 92, East Lane, Stainforth, which remained as the presbytery until its sale in 2003.
Fr Esser made one room into a painting studio. There are rumours that the Stations of the Cross, (which still in church today) assumed to be a gift from Sir Frank Brangwyn were in reality the work of Fr Esser, however this as never been proved.
Fr Esser, continued to be parish priest until his death from leukaemia in 1948. At his request he is buried in Stainforth Cemetery, as a testimony of his love for the people of Stainforth.
Fr Kelly was appointed Parish Priest after the death of Fr Esser. That he made his mark on Stainforth goes without saying. In his early years in the parish he became known as the sporting priest, because of his success of his boxing and football teams.
Fr Kelly became involved in the pastoral care of RAF Lindholme, adapting an empty Nissan Hut on the base as a Chapel.
In 1949, it was decided to build a parochial hall, and fundraising began, with a "Have a Go Draw", at a shilling a go. It brought in about £300 each week, which was divided equally between the winner and church funds.
In 1950, Fr Kelly was appointed Prison Chaplain at the Borstal situated at Hatfield. Inmates were invited to attend mass in the church on a Sunday Morning.
In 1951, the foundation stone for the parochial hall was laid. The same year saw the closure of the Catholic Club, because of high lighting and heating costs. Local miners, got together and dismantled the old wooden church, and made a road to the site of the parochial hall. Mass was held in the new parochial hall, until the completion of the new church
In 1955, the foundation stone for the new church was laid. The church being planned by Fr Kelly. The new church was opened on the 20th September 1956. Jim Ward donated the Statue of Our Lady, which stands above the door. With the Holy Water fonts, donated by Mr & Mrs Lanaghan.
In 1957, four nuns arrived in Stainforth, at Fr Kelly's request and founded a private Convent School, at East Lane House, Stainforth. In May of that year, the convent school opened with 78 pupils from Stainforth and Moorends. At the end of the first year the number of children attending had risen to 120. New classrooms were built to the rear of the convent, and as the numbers grew the top class moved into the small hall. Neither the church nor the nuns could afford cleaners, so every half term parents from Thorne & Stainforth came with buckets and soap to clean the classrooms.
Eventually the sheer numbers of children asking for a catholic education persuaded the Education Authorities that a new school should be built.
In 1960, permission was granted for the construction of a School at Stainforth, at a cost of £70,000 and without a grant from the Education Authority, with the people of the district having to shoulder the debt, in addition to the High School at Cantley. In 1961, the foundation stone was laid, with the school officially opening on the 25th February 1963. It was named "Holy Family School", taking its name from the two parishes of Stainforth and Moorends. In 1968, the nuns left Stainforth, their mission accomplished.
In May 1968, Fr Michael John Gallagher, arrived at Stainforth as curate. In 1971, Fr Kelly was forced by ill health to retire, and Fr Gallagher became parish priest.
Upon his arrival at Stainforth in 1968, Fr Gallagher, or Pop G as he became to be known by the younger members of the parish, resided in a bungalow in Dunscroft. Upon the retirement of Fr Kelly, the bungalow was sold and Fr Gallagher moved into the presbytery. For a short time Fr Joseph Donnelly assisted him, but he sadly died on the steps of Leeds Cathedral on Christmas Eve 1974.
Upon taking up the position of Parish Priest, Fr Gallagher inherited the debt of £46,000, the church was in urgent need of repair, with the flat roof posing problems by persistent leaks. The necessary repairs and alterations were made at a cost of £35,000.
In 1978, the grotto was replaced, with a new one being built out of stone, the grotto being used frequently as a backdrop for wedding and confirmation pictures.
The church building became a financial burden, due to the initial architectural and structural design, there seemed to be problems with the siting of the church also, with much mining subsidence underneath the foundations.
In 1980, the Diocese of Hallam was formed and the parish became part of the new diocese.
Fr Gallagher introduced Eucharistic Ministers to the community. He encouraged shows, garden fetes, trips and Deanery masses for the Catholics of Stainforth.
In late 1983, Fr Gallagher was recalled to Storrington, to become prior of his order. A farewell mass was celebrated and a video recorder presented to him by parishioners. All parishioners, young and old, sadly missed him. For a short time the parish was served by Fr Stephen Cansse, our last Premonstratensian priest.
Fr Durkin became our first Diocesan priest in 1984. He formed a youth group to sing and play musical instruments at the Saturday Evening mass, the inaugural mass took place on Saturday 31st March, and the practice still goes on today. He resurrected the Parish Council, which had been dissolved some time prior to his arrival. He encouraged the formation of the over 60's club, later called the 'Evergreens'. He encouraged the formation of 'Our Lady's Emergency Service' and the 'Mother and Toddlers Group'
A Parish Mission was held in October 1985
In 1986, a change was made to the Mass times for Sunday Mass, the mass was moved to 11am, in order to accommodate mass being celebrated at HMP Lindholme.
In September 1986, Fr Durkin was appointed parish priest at Hoyland.
In September 1986, Fr Joe Long, took up his appointment as parish priest, at this time he was the youngest priest in the diocese.
One of the first things he did on his arrival was to reduce the number of the Sunday Masses, to one. Subsequently, Sunday morning mass was celebrated at 10.00am.
The parish debt at this time stood at £116,000.00, and it was decided that over the next 12 years the debt would be paid off, and following an arrangement with the diocese the parish would not pay any interest on the debt, if the parish paid £750 per month! At this time the parish was struggling to meet the monthly interest payments of £500. A further £250 was needed, Fr Joe made an appeal, and the monthly collections rose to an average of £300.00 per month. Shortly afterwards, Fr Joe decided to cease from using missalettes, saving the parish £25 per month.
In 1991, Fr Joe began a campaign to reduce the debt of the parish, when the arrangement regarding the interest payments were withdrawn, he wrote several letters to the bishop, expressing his concerns.
Also in 1991, felt that changes need to take place within the main body of the church, this was done with the erection of curtains in 1993.
Fr Joe remained an active parish priest serving the needs of the Catholic Community and wider community of Stainforth for several more years.
In 1995 he left the parish to work as Chaplain in Doncaster Prison and eventually on the 21st April 1996, he left the priesthood.
In January 1995, the parish became the first in the diocese of Hallam to be left without a resident priest. The parish continued to operate efficiently with the support of six visiting priests and a deacon. All decisions concerning parish life, including finance, maintenance, mission, formation and liturgy were rooted in teamwork and taken with the Parish Council, which adopted a co-leadership style of operation. The chair of the Council meeting monthly with the Dean.
Much was learnt during the absence of a resident parish priest and many, many people became more actively involved in the life of the parish and the community. Some priests and people had found the challenge of a parish without a resident priest a difficult concept to handle.
In 1997, Fr John Moriarty, became our resident parish priest, serving both parishes of Stainforth and helping out at Moorend, until the retirement of Fr.Quigley, in 2000, when he took on this parish full-time. He allowed the laity to continue in their work within the parish, in fact he encouraged their ministries. Fr John, left the parish in 2001, when Fr Roy Pannell, became parish priest of Stainforth and Moorends, being resident in the presbytery at Moorends.
The presbytery on East Lane was sold in 2003, and the parish debt greatly reduced.
