The Church and Parish of St Wilfrid
St Wilfrid's church was built by the parish priest of Holy Family church, Fr Edward Wilcock, and opened by the then Bishop of Leeds, George Patrick Dwyer, in 1958. The new church was intended to serve the needs of three new housing estates in the Farnley area of Leeds. The site, covering an area of over an acre, was bought in 1956 from Leeds Corporation at a cost of £1,812. The church can seat about 350 people. The nave is 70 feet long and 38 feet wide; the walls are 22 feet high to the eaves. The general construction is that of a Portal Frame with panels of natural York stone. The stone is from the Southowram Quarries near Halifax.

The new church in 1958

The high altar stands in a semi-circular apse and is visible from every part of the church. The altar of white marble was brought from Italy and the fluted panels correspond in general design with the Baptismal Font. The statue of Our Lady and Child in the Lady Chapel is by the Austrian sculptor, Stuflesser

  

  
Windows

The large window area of the church has made possible the use of coloured glass without unduly darkening the church. The main body of the church is illuminated with tinted antique and cathedral glass with leaded glazing; colour is graded from deep blue at the base of each window through a range of blue and green-blue tints to clear glass at the head.

 

The two porch windows have a background of clear antique glass incorporating a central decorative sand-blasted panel worked on plate glass and showing the coat of arms of His Grace the Archbishop of Liverpool, who laid the Foundation Stone shortly before his translation to the See of Liverpool, and the coat of arms of His Lordship the Bishop of Leeds.


The stained glass windows of the Lady Chapel show. on the left, Our Lady looking down with her hands raised in prayer. She is shown crowned with the twelve stars and at the top of the light is her monogram MR with a Crown.

St Wilfrid, the patron saint of the church, is shown in the right-hand light. He is standing above the church which can be seen at the base of the window. He is wearing the full vestments of a Bishop and holds in his right hand a crozier and in his left a book. St Wilfrid was Arch-bishop of York and above his head are the Arms of the See of York, which include the Keys of St Peter. to whom York Minster is dedicated.