Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Churchdown – The First 50 Years
"It is curious how many parishes can trace their origins back to a
pub", commented Bishop Declan Lang when he led the celebratory mass on
the 50th anniversary of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Churchdown, near
Gloucester.
Mass was celebrated on 3rd September 1939 at the Chosen Hotel pub in Churchdown. This was the first mass to be said in the village since the reformation. The reason was that 200 children had been evacuated from St Anne’s Catholic primary school in Birmingham to the village. In 1942 mass moved to another pub, the Hare and Hounds.
Fifteen years later, in 1954, the village had a Catholic church of its own. Father Matthew Roche, Parish Priest of St Peter’s in Gloucester, bought a farmhouse, outbuildings and land at Pirton Corner for £11,000. The pigsty became the parish hall and the adjoining barn converted into a church. On 8th December 1954, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, it was dedicated as the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
In 1973 St Mary’s primary school was added to the church and both grew apace. By 1984 the farmhouse was no longer suitable as a presbytery and the old barn church was suffering from roof decay and needed constant repairs. The farmhouse was sold and a new presbytery built.
The final mass in the old church was celebrated on 16th June 1991. During the building of a new church mass was celebrated in the Horizons centre and at RAF Innsworth. The present church was opened and dedicated on 10th June 1992.
The first parish priest was Father Edward Moriarty who was succeeded by Father John Lee. The present parish priest, Father Donal Daly, came to Churchdown in 1984.
During the Mass, Bishop Declan was presented with a scrapbook of the parish history by Phil Scully and Cath Gallagher both of whom had been present at the first mass in 1954. Much of the material had been collected by the late Lillian Bell. Parishioners Matt and Helen Bird were presented by the Bishop with a framed certificate and gift in appreciation of their good work in the parish.
Prior to the Mass, Bishop Declan blessed a new icon of Our Lady and the child Jesus at the rear of the church. It had been erected to mark the anniversary and in memory of Delia and Jack Procter. The icon was designed by Brother Gilbert Taylor OSB, of nearby Prinknash Abbey who died earlier this year.
Following the mass, Bishop Declan also blessed another of Brother Gilbert’s works at the entrance to St Mary’s primary school which adjoins the church.
David Burke
Mass was celebrated on 3rd September 1939 at the Chosen Hotel pub in Churchdown. This was the first mass to be said in the village since the reformation. The reason was that 200 children had been evacuated from St Anne’s Catholic primary school in Birmingham to the village. In 1942 mass moved to another pub, the Hare and Hounds.
Fifteen years later, in 1954, the village had a Catholic church of its own. Father Matthew Roche, Parish Priest of St Peter’s in Gloucester, bought a farmhouse, outbuildings and land at Pirton Corner for £11,000. The pigsty became the parish hall and the adjoining barn converted into a church. On 8th December 1954, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, it was dedicated as the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
In 1973 St Mary’s primary school was added to the church and both grew apace. By 1984 the farmhouse was no longer suitable as a presbytery and the old barn church was suffering from roof decay and needed constant repairs. The farmhouse was sold and a new presbytery built.
The final mass in the old church was celebrated on 16th June 1991. During the building of a new church mass was celebrated in the Horizons centre and at RAF Innsworth. The present church was opened and dedicated on 10th June 1992.
The first parish priest was Father Edward Moriarty who was succeeded by Father John Lee. The present parish priest, Father Donal Daly, came to Churchdown in 1984.
During the Mass, Bishop Declan was presented with a scrapbook of the parish history by Phil Scully and Cath Gallagher both of whom had been present at the first mass in 1954. Much of the material had been collected by the late Lillian Bell. Parishioners Matt and Helen Bird were presented by the Bishop with a framed certificate and gift in appreciation of their good work in the parish.
Prior to the Mass, Bishop Declan blessed a new icon of Our Lady and the child Jesus at the rear of the church. It had been erected to mark the anniversary and in memory of Delia and Jack Procter. The icon was designed by Brother Gilbert Taylor OSB, of nearby Prinknash Abbey who died earlier this year.
Following the mass, Bishop Declan also blessed another of Brother Gilbert’s works at the entrance to St Mary’s primary school which adjoins the church.
David Burke
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