The history of this Catholic parish is closely linked to that of the Ladybower Dam under which were submerged the villages of Ashopton and Derwent.  Derwent Hall, a former shooting lodge of the Duke of Norfolk, became the home of the Fitzalan - Howards.  In 1877 a domestic chaplaincy was set up for the Howard family with a chapel (St. Henry) for the staff and villagers.  In 1883 a combined school/chapel identical to St. Henry’s was set up in Bamford where the chaplain to Derwent Hall lived.  This became the official mission or parish in 1912, with St. Henry’s as its chapel-of-ease until 1944.  In1934 the school at Bamford ceased to function as such and became a full time church.  The altar carving (Austrian) of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is behind the Altar, was obtained in 1961 from the Gee chapel at Radcliffe College, Leicester where it had been erected as a memorial to Dr Gee, an honorary surgeon to Queen Victoria. The present parish of Our Lady of Sorrows embraces the areas of Edale, Castleton, Hope and Bradwell.

Padley Chapel Gatehouse and Chapel to Padley Hall, upper Padley Grindleford.  Build C1400, well preserved Hammer beamed original roof.  Scene of capture of two priests’ in Penal Times, Robert Ludlam and Nicholas Garlick 12^th July 1588.  Padley Chapel is situated in the Parish of St Michael the Archangel, Hathersage.  St Michael’s, the Mother Church to Our Lady of Sorrows Bamford was built in 1692.

Sunday Mass is celebrated at both Churches

Our Lady of Sorrows, Bamford             9.00 am

St Michael’s, Hathersage                      10.30 am

Priest Father W A Burke

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