The Present Church from 1938

Father McGarity was succeeded by Father Dolan, who began work on the church in 1938. It was opened by the Bishop of Leeds in 1939 to the delight of all the parishioners. Father Dolan died in 1944 and is the first priest from the parish to be buried in the cemetery at Thorne. Father Dodds came in 1944, and during his time the old church began to be used as a dance hall, better known locally as "the sweat box!" Father Dodds remained until 1957. His successor was Father Neill, who built the present presbytery in 1959.

Stained Glass

The five stained glass windows in what was the church's baptistry were installed during Father Zyerveld's time, and are the work of Miss Elfa Courtoit, born in Antwerp, Belgium, who donated them to the Church. They depict the rock of Moses, Noah's Ark, Christ dying on the Cross, the Passage through the Red Sea and the Baptism of Christ.

Building a church is not a once-for-all-time venture, and buildings and furnishings must be adapted to the worshipping needs of the congregation. Recent roof repairs, the refurnishing and redecoration of the church this year, together with the proposed plans for building a new porch bear testimony to this continuous process.

Fundraising . the Bingo

The maintenance of the fabric of the church and the schools which serve our parish's children could not be undertaken without a regular source of revenue. No parish history would be complete, therefore, without mentioning the role that the bingo has played in supplying much of that revenue. Bingo is played in St. Joseph's Hall on Marshland Road. Until 1952 the hall was the old Empire Cinema and was acquired by Father Neill for the parish after the fire. The parish and the schools owe a debt of gratitude to all those, past and present, who have regularly and consistently given freely of their time to run it, and to those who have supported it.

The Parish returns to the Diocese of Hallam

In February 1987 the full ownership and pastoral care of the parish of Moorends was transferred to the diocese. As an interim measure a supply priest was appointed from February until August when the Bishop appointed Fr. Joseph Quigley as Parish Priest. Fr. Quigley is the first parish priest appointed from the Diocese and was installed as parish priest in October 1987 by the Bishop.