Faith and hope in a church marked by history

Inside the church a simple wooden plaque commemorates the Howdenshire Martyrs, a group of men who died for their faith over a 100-year period. There’s a disturbing story behind each name listed. Take Robert Aske, from Aughton, who was convicted of high treason at Westminster for his role in an uprising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. He was taken to York and publicly hanged in chains on a scaffold next to Clifford’s Tower in 1537. The rebels, including many men from Howdenshire, were hanged in large numbers.

Also listed is Thomas Percy of Wressle Castle, who saw the Northern Rising of 1569 as a religious exercise to restore the faith. He was captured and offered his life in return for renouncing his religion. He refused and was beheaded at York in 1572.

Alexander Crowe, a cobbler from Howden who was ordained as a priest, was caught baptising a baby at South Duffield. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at York in 1586. And so the list goes on.

Catherine Murphy, who lives in Howden and has worshipped at Sacred Heart for more than 20 years, said: “There would be years of tolerance but then an incident in France would trigger another round of persecution. Every October we have a service to commemorate them, and others like them who were martyred for their faith.

“After the emancipation acts, there was an almost missionary zeal to re-establish Catholic worship in Howden. It’s thought that Mass had been held at an address in St John’s Street prior to the church opening in July 1851.”

Catherine, who has researched Sacred Heart’s history extensively, added: “It’s a huge church for a place like Howden for what was a minority religion. It was originally going to be a seminary where priests would be trained but that never happened for some reason.”

A framed poster promoting the opening of the church and the first High Mass to be held there is on display inside and reveals that parishioners were charged two shillings and sixpence to attend.

A listed building, the striking Victorian, Gothic revival style church was designed by J A Hansom, a well-known architect born in York, who also invented the Hansom cab, and the stained-glass windows were made by Francis Barnett, also of York. A number of wealthy local benefactors contributed to the development of the church, including the Maxwell family of Everingham; the Sunderland family, who were butchers in Howden; and William Thompson of Hazlewood Castle, near Tadcaster. A second altar, which was added to the church later, is thought to have come from the chapel at Everingham and is believed to depict the Maxwell family.

As part of attempts to modernise the Catholic Church, during the 1980s some of the original features were removed, including ornate panelling, the pulpit and handrails around the altar.

Sacred Heart contains a number of fascinating historic and religious artefacts, including a statue of Margaret Clitherow, the wife of a butcher from The Shambles in York. She was one of the last women to be martyred for her faith in this country when she was put to death in 1586 for harbouring a priest and her hand is preserved in the Bar Convent in York.

Today the church has a thriving and deeply-committed congregation, with between 100 and 150 people typically attending Mass each Sunday. The current priest, Father Nigel Barr, is also responsible for St Joseph’s church in Goole, which is part of the same parish. Both sit within the Leeds Diocese.

Sacred Heart Church is in urgent need of more than £100,000 worth of repairs to its roof, guttering, flashing, stonework, flooring and drainage. It recently received a £14,000 National Churches Trust repair grant and a government grant of £54,600 from the Listed Place of Worship roof repair fund.

Susannah Melleney, a member of the congregation who lives in Howden, said: “To qualify for the grants, the diocese and particularly the congregation still have to raise a very substantial further proportion of the funds required. We’ve been inspired by the kindness and generosity of the community to help save this beautiful and historic Howden church, including support from other local inter-denominational churches, but there is a long way to go.”

Anyone wanting to donate to the appeal can send a cheque made payable to The Sacred Heart Refurbishment Fund to 1 Buttfield Road, Howden, East Yorkshire DN14 7DW.