Thursday, 2 June 2016

Polish Parish, 15/17 Edmund Street, Bradford BD5 0BH



The end of World War II brought a large influx of polish refugees into Bradford. At first the Roman Catholic poles worshipped at the local St Joseph's and St Patrick's churches. This was the beginning of the new polish parish from 1948. 

The new Parish Priest Henryk Borynski (whose mysterious disappearance in 1953 attracted much publicity in the local press) quickly established the Polish Parish Council, Polish Catholic Youth Association, Church Choir and Rotary Circle. Later a 21-year lease on an existing church building in Lansdowne Place was signed and in March 1960 the church was consecrated. Shortly after this the nearby Polish Parish Club was opened for social meetings and celebrations. 

In 1971 the church was bought outright under the invocation of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The pontification of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II brought much jubilation to Poles in the UK and all over the world. In January 1979 the Polish Church in Bradford received special recognition and thanks for their achievements from their much beloved Pope.

The parish today functions with a number of associations :-

Polish Catholic Elders’ Circle (KSWK)

Polish Catholic Youth Association (KSMP)

Polish School (Szkola Polska)

Polish Scouts (Harcerze)

Polish Parish Club & Day Centre





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