Torchlight Procession in honour of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Monday 1st OCTOBER 2007

Upwards of 1,500 people gathered outside the Town Hall in Batley on the night of Monday the 1st of October, to revive the custom of the Batley Torchlight Procession.

This was a tradition that was started in 1951 by Father Gallon, who's niece and grand-nieces were in attendance. However, after a poor attendance in 2000 the procession was not continued. It was Bishop Roche, himself who last year made a special appeal to the people of the Diocese, to turn out in numbers to show their Faith. They came from all over the Diocese both young and old, some for the first time, others reliving their memories of how they had enjoyed this occasion when they were young.

On the steps of the Town Hall, Bishop Roche welcomed The Mayor of Kirklees, Cll Jean Calvert along with her consort, Mr Shane Eastwood as well as the Local Spen MP, Mike Wood. He also extended a warm welcome to everyone who had taken the time to come along, on what was a very mild night. After a Gospel reading Bishop Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster preached a homily which contrasted the shallowness of today's throw away society with the steadfast Faith of Mary and pointed out how our world today needed Mary's Faith.

The procession then wound its way up the hill to the Church, here there was the slight problem in that the Church could not hold everyone, but most people stood outside the Church until Benediction was over.

At the end of the service Bishop Roche thanked everyone and issued a challenge to all there - namely to come again next year and bring a friend.

More pictures to view or buy at Leeds Diocese Home Page

The Torchlight Procession was started in the 1951 by Father Gallon so that parishioners could take part in what is both an act of public worship and a display of witness to our faith. After the Rosary was said at the Church the procession; preceded by a statue of Our Lady and a loudspeaker van playing appropiate Hymns got underway, the original route went on Cemetery Road and then along Wellington Street turning left at the Yorkshire Bank onto Commercial Street and finishing at the Market Place where there would be a short service followed by Benediction. I'm told that in the early days the Market Place would be full before the tail end of the procession had even reached Commercial Street, in later years the route was shortened by not going on Wellinton Street but entering onto Commercial Street at its other end. From the start it was hugely popular attracting people from all over the diocese and beyond, sadly in recent years attendance has declined and in 2001 the decision was taken to end the walk.

I think these are from the Torchlight Procession of 1974.