History of the parish

At the beginning of 1962, when Knottingley was part of St Joseph's parish in Pontefract, the then Parish Priest of St Joseph's, Fr JJ Burns, wrote that the new Parish Hall at Knottingley was almost complete and would be available also as a Mass Centre. He also looked forward to Knottingley becoming a separate parish.

This it did in 1964, when the parish was cut off, consisting of Knottingley, Ferrybridge and parts of North Yorkshire including Kellingley, Cridling Stubbs and Hensall. Father Edward Horkin was appointed as the first parish priest. It was he who built the Presbytery.

Father Horkin was followed by Fr Hugh Barr, during whose time at Knottingley the Catholic primary school serving both Chequerfield and Knottingley was opened. Fr Barr was followed by Fr John Riordan, Fr Charles Doughty and Fr David Smith.

It was while Fr Smith was parish priest, that on August 15th 1997 the church was burned down as a result of arson. The present church and hall designed by Atkin, Osborne, Vasey in association with John M Harris Partnership, Wakefield, were opened in 2000.

Fr Smith was followed by Fr Gerald Creasey, Fr Gerald Thornton and in 2006 by Monsignor Bryan Sharp.

© Saint Michael, Knottingley