Mount St Mary’s Church provided a place of worship and sanctuary for those who had settled in Richmond Hill after escaping the famine in Ireland. The foundation stone was laid in 1853 and the nave and side aisles completed in 1857. It was a church renowned for community involvement and school and welcomed a congregation until its closure in 1989. Fast forward to 2026 and plans have been give the green light for a conversion of the Grade II listed building. These photos a mix from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service, showcasing the impact the church has had on the community down the decades. READ MORE: Memories of loved and lost Leeds pubs in Richmond Hill, Burmantofts, Cross Green and East End Park LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
1. Mount St Mary's Church
Altars at Mount St Mary's Church. | Third Party Photo: Third Party
2. Mount St Mary's Church
A view down the nave looking at the altar in November 1936. | Thoresby Society Photo: Thoresby Society
3. Mount St Mary's Church
A fruit and vegetable stall at a garden party in the grounds of Mount St Mary's Church. The men behind the stall are Tommy Nicholson, Andrew Malone, and Tommy O'Hearne. The sign behind announces them as 'Curly' Malone and 'Slim' Nicholson. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
4. Mount St Mary's Church
Mines were discovered underneath the Church in the mid 1980s. | YPN Photo: YPN
5. Mount St Mary's Church
The dismounted top front section of the tabernacle showing some of the intricate carving. Pictured in September 2002. | YPN Photo: YPN
6. Mount St Mary's Church
September 2007 and religious statues recovered from inside the Church were being stored by Pat Gavan. | YPN Photo: YPN