In 1963 Father Peter Storey became the Parish Priest in charge of the Stokesley Mission which serves our three parishes. The Catholic Community in Great Ayton were having to travel to St Joseph’s to celebrate Mass. Growing in numbers, Father Storey realised that Great Ayton needed its own church. In 1966 he secured the local Ambulance Room for a Sunday evening Mass. That same year, on behalf of the Mission, he purchased a one acre site in the centre of Great Ayton on Sunnyfield.

In 1970 a timber prefabricated building was constructed for the dual purpose of being used as a community centre and a church, mass being celebrated on Sunday and Monday mornings. The Church was opened on 29th June 1970 on the Feast of Saint Peter and Paul. On the 22nd of October 1971 Bishop Gerard McLean blessed and dedicated the building to Saint Margaret Clitherow. It was the first church in the world to be dedicated to Saint Margaret.

30 years later the building of a permanent church began, with grateful thanks to the church’s benefactor, Judy Home. On Sunday the 30th of September 2001 the historic ceremony of laying of the stone was celebrated by the late Monsignor Ray Charlton, Father Edmund Hatton OSB, and parishioners. The inscription translated reads “This is a house of prayer, dedicated to the greater glory of God, September 2001”, which can be seen in the foyer of the church.

St Margaret Clitherow's Church

On Sunday the 6th of January 2002, the Feast of the Epiphany, Bishop John Crowley blessed and formally opened the rebuilt church of Saint Margaret Clitherow.

The church is now connected to the original prefabricated building and is referred to as the Church Hall. It continues to play a large part of church and community life.

St Margaret Clitherow

Margaret Clitherow was born in York, 1552. On 1st July 1571, she married John Clitherow, a widower with two sons. Together they had three children of their own. He was a wealthy butcher in York and a Chamberlain of the city. She converted to Catholicism in 1574, despite her husband being a Protestant.

Their home in “The Shambles”, York, is now acknowledged to be one of the most recognised hiding places for fugitive priests in the North of England. She would also allow mass to be celebrated there which was contrary to the Legislation of 1585, making it a Capital Offence for harbouring clergy. She was imprisoned several times for her beliefs and actions, but this didn’t deter her faith.

On 10th March 1586 her home was raided. A concealed room was found and a secret cupboard which contained priest’s vestments and items of Catholic worship. Despite the absence of a priest, she was arrested and charged with harbouring. She refused to plead in order to save her children from being made to testify. (This would have resulted in their torture to give evidence.) On 25th March 1586 despite being pregnant with her fourth child, she was executed by being pressed to death. She died at the age of 34 years.

In 1929 Margaret Clitherow was beatified by Pope Pius X1

On 25th October 1970 she was canonised by Pope, Paul V1

Margaret Clitherow is also know as “The Pearl of York”.