English Martyrs
English Martyrs RC Church Sleights
Address: 2 Eskdaleside, Sleights, Whitby YO22 5EP
Mass Times:
Sunday 9.00 am
Tuesday 7.00 pm
Holy Days 7.00 pm
At English Martyrs the Rosary is prayed every Tuesday before Mass starting at 6.40 pm & led by Kath Nellis. During Lent at English Martyrs the Stations of the Cross are visited at 6.40 pm replacing the Rosary.
Mass commences after at 7.00 pm
For possible alterations to these times, please see the weekly bulletin
Parking: There is limited parking next to the church and further parking along Eskdaleside, but please ensure you do not block any drives or side roads.
A filial church, dedicated to the English Martyrs, is found in Sleights, the village in Eskdale situated at the bottom of the steep Blue Bank, the entry or exit to the North Yorkshire moors. The local community here retain their autonomy whilst participating fully in St Hilda´s parish as a whole.
In February 2022, the church was used for a parish synod meeting in order to accommodate the numerous parishioners keen to take part in the global Synod called for by Pope Francis.
Brief History:
In 1950 the parish of Sleights was formed from parts of St Hilda’s parish and St Hedda’s parish, Egton Bridge. The first parish priest was Fr James Gannon. A temporary small brick church with a corrugated roof was built. The opening was presided over by Bishop Shine, in his 79th year, one of his last public duties before he retired into the Convent nursing home in Whitby, from where he continued to run the diocese for five more years. The dedication is apt for this area, where the Faith continued throughout the penal period, and from where Blessed Father Nicholas Postgate went to his death.
A foundation stone of the new church was laid by Bishop John Crowley in June 1998. He returned to dedicate the church in October. The church was built at a cost of £250,000 paid for with local contributions.
After the retirement in 1999 of Fr Seamus Brennan, the church was served from Whitby. In 2005 it was formally amalgamated with St Hilda’s.
The church has regular Sunday and midweek masses, and is a thriving community as part of the parish.
