Holy Rood

In 1824 the first Catholic Church in Barnsley was built to replace the Catholic Chapel, which previously was a room on the second floor above a stable. A second, and considerably larger church, was opened in 1832 and served the local population until a site for a new church, adjoining the old one, was secured in 1898 at a cost of £2700.

The existing church, built in 1905, is fine Gothic design of the turn of the 20th century by the Bradford Architect Edward Simpson, prominently located on a corner site and creating a strong visual presence in the townscape.

The stately and little altered interior is richly fitted out in marble and alabaster, with notable contributions by Gabriel Pippett of Solihull (the Stations of the Cross) and RB Wall of Cheltenham (the frontal of the High Altar). Above the arches on the sanctuary are, on one side, carved heads of four founders of religious orders; St Francis of Assisi, St Dominic, St Benedict and St Ignatius Loyola and on the other side four great doctors of the church; St Gregory, St Augustine, St Alphonsus Liguori and St Thomas Aquinas. The background of oak, recessed behind the altar displays a variety of symbols based on the Bible and Roman Catacombs. The windows on the side of the sanctuary depict the Passion with a Latin narrative from the Old Testament directly beneath each one. On either side of the sanctuary are the Sacred Heart altar, which was carefully transferred from the old church and given a new reredos by the artist Gabriel Pippett, and the Lady Chapel with the heads of St Joachim and St Anne on either side of the entrance.

The Shrine of the English Martyrs is Holy Rood’s War Memorial and is dedicated to St Thomas More and St John Fisher. On either side of the church are four shrines; our Lady of Sorrows; St Michael; St Anthony and St Patrick.

A new organ, installed in 2019 to celebrate the centenary of the church’s consecration, was built by Messrs. Skrabl of Slovenia and is used for organ recitals as well as church services.