St Mary's Garforth

Beautiful old Church, with a tipical cemetery. Really nice place to visit.

It was the christening of my great grandson. Should have been last Sept but postponed due to virus. He was nearly big enough to tell the minister his name. The service was very good in the circumstances, we had full separation, masks, no singing and max of 30 adults. However, the family occasion was excellent, we all enjoyed it and the celebration afterwards, with an England victory capping the day off. B

This was a beautiful victorian church was part of my family for generations christening weddings funerals me and my family attended every Sunday in the 60 , 70 ,80s. Having moved away I returned and was horrified at what has happened firstly total desecration of church yard by building on the graves a church hall and using the headstones as paving, inside 70% of the beautiful pews ripped out the lovely pulpit ripped out ,the lady chapel ripped out don't know what happened to the alter I'm surprised the beautiful organ as not gone the same way and replaced with a portable type to me it doesn't even feel like a church anymore or been sacred . Thankfully the other local churches remain traditional ie Swillington for example until some new wave vicar appears. Funny how the churches recon they have no money that's why Garforth lost the clocks on the tower .

A lot of the Congregation knit red poppies all year round, and come November, ALL the railings are covered with poppies and red knitted scarves. It raises thousands and looks beautiful.

This marker needs to say 'Garforth' not just Leeds. There are too many St Mary's churches in this area – eg. there is a St Mary's on Church Lane in Swillington too!