BULLETIN

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION

BRITISH PROVINCE OF CARMELITES

Winter 2004 37 No.1

,er 2003, after a n Province and fhis diminutive, illness took him rden to him, but in hand to help

t announced the rking days Mass ~ small voice of way through the

: Chalmers, took members of the coffin rested on ~ Mass, his long md work during Province and an nany aspects of

erano. It is long religious orders. Jed and some of s an unexploded hat the original 'pening revealed were placed the ow space was a aced on the next

David Waite

How the Faith Came to Faversham (continued)

As tolerance returned By the 18" century, courts were unwilling to demand the most extreme penalties for those who didn't conform but, even so, recusants still faced the forfeiture of their estates and goods, crippling taxes, heavy fines as well as a variety of additional civic limitations. But it wasn't until the closing years of that century that there was some easing of the law. The first relief came in 1788 when Catholics were once more permitted to purchase and inherit land, and priests and schoolmasters were freed from persecution. Then, the Catholic Relief Act, just three years later, finally abolished the crime of recusancy. At this time it's recorded that "there were about 600 Catholics in all Kent and only five missionaries ". But by 1814, this had increased to six chapels, six priests and 3,317 Catholics. This compared very favourably with neighbouring Sussex where the same number of priests and chapels served just 794 laity. However, even though Catholics could once again acknowledge their religion openly, it is difficult to piece together exactly how those in and around Faversham heard Mass and received the Sacraments. Records of the Church's structure in this part of Kent at the tum of the century and, indeed, throughout much of Queen Victoria's reign are rather sparse. But what does emerge throughout the next two hundred years is a succession of wonderful, larger­than-life priests who dedicated their lives to their flock. It is also fascinating to note how "big", in every sense of the word, many of these missionaries were and just how important a part Ireland has played in the reestablishment of the Faith in our town. Our first introduction is to Father Thomas Costigan who was sent to the Margate Mission in 1821. Evidently, Margate was to be his base and from there he was to minister to the spiritual needs of the Catholic population in South East Kent with a huge mission area that extended east of a line from Sheerness in the north to St. Leonard's (Hastings) in the south. Although there is no direct evidence linking Fr. Costigan specifically with Faversham, his missionary zeal was so apparent throughout the area that he became generally known as the Wandering Apostle of the South Coast and he must surely have been a familiar sight on our highways and byways. Born in Kilkenny, Ireland on 24th January 1788 and ordained at the age of 29, he was a massive man of 6 foot 5 inches and travelled around his extended "parish" either on foot or on horseback. There is a story of him striding out, taking the Last Sacrament to a dying man between Deal and Dover. As he trudged along he was passed by a coach which he endeavoured to stop. At first the occupant ordered his driver to drive on, but when Fr. Costigan persisted, identifying himself and explaining his en-and of mercy, he was helped up into the coach. His fellow traveller proved to be the Anglican Bishop of Exeter, on his way to Walmer

13

:Castle. After depositing the Bishop at his destination, the coachman was instructed to take Fr. Costigan to his parishioner and then return him to the Castle. Here he was entertained by the Bishop and the Duke of Wellington and provided with a bed for the night before returning home the next day. But bigotry and anti-Catholic feelings were still lurking just below the surface for, as Fr. Costigan journeyed around the county on horseback and it became generally known that this towering figure was indeed a Catholic priest, he often faced a barrage of rotten eggs and over-ripe tomatoes. However, such treatment can have had little effect on the man who was reputed to have once rescued the future Queen Victoria when her pony bolted. He did indeed write to the Queen each year on the anniversary of the incident and invariably received a reply. After a life that had been dedicated for so many years to the thousands of souls in his care, Fr. Costigan died on 9'" October 1860, aged 73. He was buried at St. Augustine's Abbey in Ramsgate and a cross that stands near the spot bears the inscription: "Near this cross reposes Rev. Thomas Costigan, for 38 years the missionary along the South East coast. Th, friend ofhis flock and the friend of the poor. Born Kilkenny, January 24th, 1788. Died Margate October 9th 1860. May he rest in peace. " Catholic Emancipation had finally been granted in 1829 amidst considerable uproar throughout the country. It's likely that Faversham didn't escape this reaction and it has long been claimed, with some relish, that Cardinal Newman once described the town as the most Protestant in England! However, it has to be said that the archives of the Cardinal's papers reveal no such reference and The Friends of Cardinal Newman feel that this story is almost certainly an invention. Be that as it may, at a crowded public meeting in the Assembly Rooms, Preston Street in 1850, the year that the Catholic Diocese of Southwark was created, a motion condemning the appointment of Catholic bishops in England was carried unanimously. 30th March 1851, the fourth Sunday of Lent, was chosen as the one and only occasion on which a religious census has been held in this country. Attendances at churches of all denominations were counted and, for Kent, it shows that there were 13 Roman Catholic places of worship throughout the county. However, none were listed for Faversham, the nearest being at Canterbury and, perhaps surprisingly, Sheerness. This was, in fact, one of the oldest missions in the Diocese due to the influx of a considerable number of Irish shipwrights from County Cork. They had been forced to leave their work and homes because of industrial unrest and, seeking work as labourers, settled on the Isle of Sheppey, close to the dockyard there. A few Faversham residents did, in fact, regularly attend the chapel at Hales Place, Canterbury. For instance, in 1835, eight from Faversham (and one from Boughton) are listed as members of the congregation there. But, for the whole of the nineteenth century, most Catholics in the town were going to have to rely

14

on visiting priest and say Mass at One such was Fr in 1821 and thel year in 1855-56. had some labori, Faversham, nim either place. " As an elderly pri Bishop and rem Lieutenant Mor; congregation of Leader whom 1 J Intriguingly, whl Bishop that he h~

with a borrowed when the Bishor rather frustrating Then, Fr. Rober reported that: "ij

can and see what In 1862, anothel apportioning the assistant, Fr. Cri Richardson, wou In the light of ] interesting to not, served at Canter Felicity Hales, t establish a Cam convent in Paris Clare. She began never rose beyon, But, it was with <

would be put mOl Fr. Richard POw€ as parish priest tt the memory of t strong amongst n built St. Thomas' born in Waterfor served the miss

e coachman was return him to the )f Wellington and xt day. elow the surface k and it became tholic priest, he However, such

ted to have once did indeed write t and invariably

housands of souls : was buried at St. the spot bears the for 38 years the and the friend of

?ctober 9th 1860.

lidst considerable :Iidn't escape this Cardinal Newman !owever, it has to uch reference and most certainly an in the Assembly

:ese of Southwark Ltholic bishops in

the one and only lTItry. Attendances it shows that there county. However, bury and, perhaps :t missions in the shipwrights from

homes because of e Isle of Sheppey,

e chapel at Hales am (and one from 3ut, for the whole ing to have to rely

on visiting priests, often it seems from Canterbury, to bring them the Sacraments and say Mass at a variety of locations around the town. One such was Fr. Joseph Sidden who had first been chaplain to the Hales family in 1821 and then a priest in Canterbury from 1824 to 1826, and again for one year in 1855-56. During his final year there, Fr. Sidden reported that: "1 have had some laborious sick visiting lately; death ofa young builder, Mr. Page, of Faversham, nine miles hence; death again at Herne, six miles off. No rail to either place. " As an elderly priest living in Winchester in 1873, Fr. Sidden again wrote to the Bishop and reminded him that "...1 have often said Mass at the house of a Lieutenant Morgan at the north end of West Street, Faversham, for a congregation of 18 or 20 persons, of whom one had been a Methodist Class Leader whom 1 had received into the Church, a W Hughes, a builder. " Intriguingly, when Fr. Sidden returned to Canterbury in 1855, he advised the Bishop that he had begun to say Mass there, in his residence, on 14th September with a borrowed chalice which was no longer available. He therefore wondered when the Bishop would be able to send him " the Faversham Chalice ". It is rather frustrating that no explanation or response is recorded. Then, Fr. Robert Simpson, who followed Fr. Sidden to Canterbury in 1857, reported that: "With regard to Faversham, I will go there as soon as I possibly can and see what arrangements I can make about saying Mass etc ". In 1862, another priest-in-charge at Canterbury made a recommendation for apportioning the work between the priests in the city, suggesting that his assistant, Fr. Crispin, took Hales Place and lithe coast", while he, Fr. Thomas Richardson, would do the rest. In the light of Faversham's later close connection with the Carmelites, it is interesting to note that, at about this time, a Carmelite priest, Fr. Richard Colgan, served at Canterbury and as chaplain to Hales Place. And also, Barbara Mary Felicity Hales, the last direct descendent of the Hales family, attempted to establish a Carmelite convent at Hales Place. She had entered a Carmelite convent in Paris in 1859, taking simple vows under the name of Sister Mary Clare. She began building on land at Hales Place in 1862 but the convent walls never rose beyond three or four feet before the undertaking was scrapped. But, it was with another Canterbury priest, just a few years later, that Faversham would be put more firmly on the Catholic map. Fr. Richard Power arrived in the city early in February 1869, and was to remain as parish priest there for the next thirty-six years. Such was the impact he had that the memory of his stewardship, almost a hundred years after his death, is still strong amongst many of the older members of the parish. It was he, after all, who built St. Thomas's Church and the primary school in Military Road. He had been born in Waterford in Ireland and when he came to England as a priest he first served the mission at Camberwell in South London for three years before

15

moving to Deal as their first resident priest in 1867. The descriptions of him that survive paint a picture of a truly formidable but very human priest. It was said that "indomitable" was the best word to describe him and he was also witty, indefatigable, a fine preacher and an accomplished beggar! He must undoubtedly have had a great impact on the children of the parish and school for not only was he described as "of Chestertonian proportions" (a reference to the massively built and very popular Catholic writer, G.K. Chesterton) but he was also a strict disciplinarian. He was evidently given to impartially administering either a sound thrashing or sweets, depending on a child's behaviour! And it was the zeal of Fr. Power that was really responsible for building up an active mission that encompassed Faversham, Whitstable, Swalecliffe, Seasalter and Heme. Two years after his arrival in Canterbury, he had begun to get a feel for the true number of Catholics resident in and around Faversham and sounded distinctly optimistic about the foundation of an independent Faversham Mission. On 14th October 1871 he told the Bishop that "1 am not acquainted with more than 20 Catholics in Faversham, but 1 feel sure that there must be at least 20 more that 1 do not know, connected with the extensive powder mills. The Coastguard stations at Bishopstone, Herne Bay, SwaleclifJe Whitstable, Seasalter, Seasalter Cliff, Cadmus, Coote and Beresford, all of which would belong to the new Faversham district, would, together with the towns ofHerne Bay and Whitstable give about 60 more to the new Mission. Sittingbourne, which now belongs to Chatham or Sheerness or both, would form part of the Faversham Mission and contains, probably, 20 Catholics, making in all about 120 to be provided for. " But as we shall see in due course, in the light of future problems, he added quite prophetically: "Though the Admiralty would give a capitation grant on account of the Catholic coastguards as is done at Deal, the new priest at Faversham, unless he has means of his own, would require external supplemental assistance to a very great extent. " There is also a map in the Diocesan files, possibly hand-drawn by Fr. Power himself, which is inscribed: "Plan of Missionary District served by Richard Power, Acting Chaplain to the troops at Canterbury". On the map are clearly indicated the various towns and villages that he served together with the roads, the London Chatham and Dover, and the Canterbury and Whitstable railway lines that existed at the time. This shows: Faversham (9 miles from Canterbury), Coote (that is Castle Coote, 3 miles north-east ofFaversham), Bridge Union (3 miles by road from Canterbury), Seasalter, SwaleclifJe, Bishopstone, Reculver, Whitstable (9 miles by rail from Faversham and 6 miles by rail from Canterbury), Herne Union and Herne Bay (5 miles by rail from Whitstable). When one stops to think of the very considerable difficulties that accompanied journeys of any distance at that time, one can only wonder at the stamina and dedication of this remarkable priest. Not least because the Coastguard stations he attended ''jor visiting the sick, administering Baptism, churching women and burying the dead" were usually remotely situated.

16

By 1873, Fr. Faversham. He that there is c Brethren and price is, 1 am accommodutio up on this rna enthusiasm for Three years la Sheerness, wr squarely with were to attend Further evider inventory prod chancel, side e final page that use at Faversh held in trust.fi articles incl ue Purificators, ( candlesticks, a that the connee this time. Four years late forebears whel Sergeant Majo gentleman, bar the Royal Art Sergeant Majo would travel tt could make th meetings, the ~

give half of th letter confirmil

riptions of him that I priest. It was said he was also witty, beggar! He must irish and school for , (a reference to the ,terton) but he was tially administering . ,.avIOUr. for building up an

valecliffe, Seasalter begun to get a feel rsham and sounded 'aversham Mission. luainted with more nust be at least 20 powder mills. The ecliffe Whitstable, III of which would the towns ofHerne ion. Sittingbourne, ld form part of the ~aking in all about :J. the light of future ralty would give a sdone at Deal, the wn, would require

rawn by Fr. Power served by Richard :he map are clearly :her with the roads, Whitstable railway :from Canterbury), 2), Bridge Union (3 70pstone, Reculver, 'iles by rail from , from Whitstable). s that accompanied at the stamina and :::oastguard stations Irching women and

By 1873, Fr. Power was seriously thinking about establishing a church in Faversham. He informed Bishop's House that "1 deem it my duty to inform you that there is at Faversham a Building which has been used by the Plymouth Brethren and which. .. might be converted into a Catholic Chapel. The selling price is, I am told, only £400, the pews are already there and afford sitting accommodution for at least 200 persons. " As there is no record of any follow­up on this matter, it seems that the Bishop possibly didn't share Fr. Power's enthusiasm for the project. Three years later, Fr. Power received a rather curt telegram from Fr. Cahill at Sheerness, which seems to place responsibility for Faversham fairly and squarely with Canterbury's clergy, for it states: "The Bishop told me that you were to attend Faversham Mission. 1 will not. " Further evidence of Canterbury's link with Faversham comes in the 12-page inventory produced in 1883 for the Canterbury Mission. This covered Church, chancel, side chapels, presbytery and school in great detail. However, it is the final page that has special significance for us: "Inventory of articles given for use at Faversham ifat any time a Mission, should be established there, and now held in trust for Faversham." Below this heading are listed a whole host of articles including a chalice, ciborium, various brocaded silk vestments, Purificators, Corporals, a wooden tabernacle, 6 High Altar dwarf brass candlesticks, a Missal stand and a set of altar cards. So there can be no doubt that the connection between the two Catholic communities was indeed strong by this time. Four years later, we have another example of the devotion and generosity of our forebears when Fr. Power once again contacted the Bishop, this time about a Sergeant Major Kennedy of the Drill Hall in Preston Street, Faversham. This gentleman, born and educated in Ireland, was on double pay, being a sergeant in the Royal Artillery as well as resident Instructor of Volunteers. Evidently, Sergeant Major Kennedy was unable to attend Sunday Mass in Canterbury but would travel there once a month on a week-day with his wife, in order that they could make their confessions and receive Holy Communion. On one of their meetings, the Sergeant Major told Fr. Power that he had saved £100 and would give half of this towards building a church in Faversham or Sittingbourne. His letter confirming the offer reads as follows:

17

Drill Hall, Faversham

25th November 1887

"Dear Rev. Father,

In a Pastoral Letter from the Bishop ofSouthwark in the early part oflast month (printed in "The Universe'), His Lordship alluded to the want of 'a church about Sittingbourne. Will you kindly injorm His Lordship that, in honour of God and our Blessed Mother, I will give fifty pounds toward it, whatever required, and I trust the church may soon be started, as the half-dozen ofus Catholics in Faversham can then get a train on Sunday morning that will take us to Sittingbourne in time to hear Mass. Recommending myfamily and selfto your prayers.

Believe me dear Revd. Father, Yours obediently in Jesus Christ, R. Kennedy

The Bishop did take up Sergeant Major Kennedy's offer but, unfortunately for Faversham, the money went towards a house and Chapel at Sittingbourne, which was to become the foundation of the present parish there. However, one beneficial outcome of this incident could have been to focus the attention of the Diocese on the difficulties Catholics in Faversham were experiencing. At any rate, within two and a half years London solicitors were investigating possible sites for a church, presbytery and schools in the town. They supplied the Bishop with a plan of the area in question and indicated two plots they had located that they thought might be suitable for this purpose. One was in The Mall while the site the solicitors preferred was even more central, in Stone Street, and they suggested that His Lordship might break a train journey he was about to make to Heme Bay, to see what he thought. They had obviously carried out quite a bit of research during their investigations for they remarked to the Bishop that "there must be a good number of Catholic laborers at Faversham who are employed either at the powder works, the briclifields, the brewery or railway works. " Presumably, the Bishop acted on their suggestion, alighted from the steam train and studied the lay of the land. Once again, though, this initiative bore no fruit, leaving the local Catholics to struggle on hearing Mass and receiving the Sacraments whenever the opportunity arose.

A new century, a

Bearing in mind, the emotions that opened their loca advertisements f( tuppence a pint "NOTICE TO CAT that Mass was to Abbey Street, not But this wasn't all be Mass once a m notice was to be although the paJ Christmas Day, 0

assumptions have when the self-con

82 Abbey Street. extensively renov living there togel records have bee assume that, ifno It appears that Li, made by her was was Fairbrass and nineteenth centur) where the Christn address was identi It isn't known wh Canterbury had, f( would have wante Mass must have b a priest from Wall Well, by this tirr various failed att( little town, Faver~

mind. But the nu limited. However, for son with their parent 1890 they had, in

18

Hall, ,ham nber 1887

1y part oflast month !t of'a church about

ad and our Blessed "ed, and I trust the 's in Faversham can ngbourne in time to 'so 10urs obediently in

It, unfortunately for :ittingboume, which ere. However, one the attention of the

:riencing. : were investigating )wn. They supplied two plots they had

,e. One was in The 'e central, in Stone rain journey he was ld obviously carried ley remarked to the Jrers at Faversham Ids, the brewery or

rom the steam train iative bore no fruit, and receiving the

A new century, a new beginning

Bearing in mind all that had gone before, we can now, perhaps, begin to sense the emotions that were probably generated when the good citizens of Faversham opened their local papers a few days before Christmas 1899. There, alongside advertisements for the Faversham v Dover football match, and for milk at tuppence a pint from the West End Dairy, was an eye-catching headline: "NOTICE TO CATHOLICS". The advertisement then went on to inform readers that Mass was to be celebrated on Christmas Day in "the Catacombs" at 82 Abbey Street, not just once, but three times - at 8 a.m., at 9.30 a.m. and at 10. But this wasn't all, for readers were advised that from then on, there would also be Mass once a month, and that on the first Sunday. This small but eye-catching notice was to be the turning point for the few Catholics in our community although the paper failed to carry any further comment, before or after Christmas Day, on the story, so precise information is still lacking and certain assumptions have to be made. However, one certainty is that this marks the date when the self-contained Faversham Mission was finally established.

82 Abbey Street still stands and indeed, within the last few years, it has been extensively renovated. At the turn of the century a Mrs Mary Ann Oldroyd was living there together with Miss Lizzie Oldroyd, probably her daughter. No records have been discovered that either lady was a Catholic but we must assume that, if not, they were, at least, favourably disposed towards the Church. It appears that Lizzie's one claim to fame was that, in 1891, a fan designed and made by her was presented to Queen Victoria. Mary Oldroyd's maiden name was Fairbrass and this family had owned the property since the early years of the nineteenth century. No. 82 Abbey Street does, in fact, have large vaulted cellars where the Christmas Masses were possibly celebrated, so this could be why the address was identified as "The Catacombs". It isn't known who offered Holy Mass on that historic day. As Fr. Power from Canterbury had, for so long, taken the town under his wing, one imagines that he would have wanted to be involved, but the long term commitment of a monthly Mass must have been difficult for him to undertake. So it's also just possible that a priest from Walmer could have officiated. But why a priest from so far afield? Well, by this time, some fifty years after the formation of the Diocese and various failed attempts to find a suitable location for a church in the thriving little town, Faversham must have been very much on His Lordship the Bishop's mind. But the number of priests he could call upon to staff the missions was limited. However, for some years, a community of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, with their parent house in Paris, had been established in Walmer. In January 1890 they had, in fact, opened a small school for boys there with, initially, six

19

pupils enrolled. In a short space of time this increased to eleven and, as good reports of the education provided spread through the locality, it wasn't long before the Order was asking the Bishop's advice on whether or not Protestant pupils should attend religious instruction classes. The school premises passed the inspectors' examination with flying colours and, by 1896, things were apparently flourishing with 45 pupils on the books. But, although the wider community was enthusiastic, all wasn't quite as it seemed and on 4th July 1900 the Order applied to the Bishop for permission to close the school! Evidently, by this time there were no Catholic boys at all in Walmer and, indeed, for over four years there hadn't been a single Catholic boy in the school! Added to this, there were very few Catholic residents in the town, while the school was proving to be a huge drain on the Oblates' finances and way beyond their means. At about this time the Diocese acquired Plantation House, a large rambling residence in Plantation Road in Faversham that had, at one time, housed a schoo I when a Miss Young moved her establishment there in 1855. Later it became the home of William Maile, the town's first really large-scale developer. The Bishop had already been in discussion with the Superior of the Oblates in Walmer, Fr. Stanislaw Krolikowski. Their talks bore fruit, for Fr. Charles Fromentin of the Order arrived in town in time for the first Sunday of October 1900. And so the Order commenced an association with Faversham that was to continue for the next eleven years. Within a very short time, Fr. Francis Mahoney replaced Fr. Fromentin as rector and would have wanted to be involved, but the long term commitment of a monthly Mass must have been difficult for him to undertake. So it's also just possible that a priest from Walmer could have officiated. But why a priest from so far afield? Well, by this time, some fifty years after the formation of the Diocese and various failed attempts to find a suitable location for a church in the thriving little town, Faversham must have been very much on His Lordship the Bishop's mind. But the number of priests he could call upon to staff the missions was limited. However, for some years, a community of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, with their parent house in Paris, had been established in Walmer. In January 1890 they had, in fact, opened a small school for boys there with, initially, six pupils enrolled. In a short space of time this increased to eleven and, as good reports of the education provided spread through the locality, it wasn't long before the Order was asking the Bishop's advice on whether or not Protestant pupils should attend religious instruction classes. The school premises passed the inspectors' examination with flying colours and, by 1896, things were apparently flourishing with 45 pupils on the books. But, although the wider community was enthusiastic, all wasn't quite as it seemed and on 4th July 1900 the Order applied to the Bishop for permission to close the school! Evidently, by this time there were no Catholic boys at all in Walmer

20

and, indeed, for c school! Added to the school was p beyond their mear At about this tirr residence in Plan school when a N became the home The Bishop had a Walmer, Fr. Star Fromentin of the' 1900. And so the continue for the n( Within a very sho and one of the f(

dedicated to St. Catholics would a evening.

(At first sight the Turkey may seem indeed a native 0)

602, he began his to Rome. He must only caught the at in 667, Vitalian c;

consecrated Archl England accompaJ companions who l' ministry. Arriving himself to be a str, In fact, such was! to judge him "the j

And so, once agai of Faversham. He wasn't without its mighty storm struc thunder and lightr quite shaken when with bricks dislodE By now, thoughts beginning to take

len and, as good y, it wasn't long or not Protestant

ying colours and, 1 the books. But, lite as it seemed ssion to close the at all in Walmer tholic boy in the rl the town, while inances and way

a large rambling : time, housed a in 1855. Later it :-scale developer. of the Oblates in for Fr. Charles

mday of October 'sham that was to

omentin as rector :ommitment of a , So it's also just 'Vhy a priest from formation of the ~r a church in the His Lordship the ,taff the missions

Francis de Sales, Imer. In January vith, initially, six len and, as good 'I, it wasn't long Dr not Protestant

ling colours and, I the books. But, lite as it seemed ;sion to close the It all in Walmer

and, indeed, for over four years there hadn't been a single Catholic boy in the school! Added to this, there were very few Catholic residents in the town, while the school was proving to be a huge drain on the Oblates' finances and way beyond their means. At about this time the Diocese acquired Plantation House, a large rambling residence in Plantation Road in Faversham that had, at one time, housed a school when a Miss Young moved her establishment there in 1855. Later it became the home of William Maile, the town's first really large-scale developer. The Bishop had already been in discussion with the Superior of the Oblates in Walmer, Fr. Stanislaw Krolikowski. Their talks bore fruit, for Fr. Charles Fromentin of the Order arrived in town in time for the first Sunday of October 1900. And so the Order commenced an association with Faversham that was to continue for the next eleven years. Within a very short time, Fr. Francis Mahoney replaced Fr. Fromentin as rector and one of the rooms in Plantation House was converted into a tiny chapel dedicated to St. Theodore of Tarsus. Here on Sundays four or five local Catholics would attend Mass at 11 o'clock and Evening Devotions at 6.30 in the evening.

(At first sight the dedication of the chapel to a saint from far off Tarsus in Turkey may seem surprising, until one delves a little deeper. Theodore was indeed a native of Tarsus although his ancestors were, in fact, Greek. Born in 602, he began his studies first in Tarsus and then in Athens from where he went to Rome. He must have been a man ofgreat scholarship and presence for he not only caught the attention ofPope St. Vitalian but was so respected by him that, in 667, Vitalian appointed him to succeed to the See of Canterbury. He was consecrated Archbishop on 26/h March the/ollowing year and then set out for England accompanied by Saints Dominic Biscop and Hadrian the African, good companions who were able to assist and advise him on many aspects of 'his new ministry. Arriving in Canterbury in May 669, Theodore immediately proved himself to be a strong and able Primate ofthe Anglo-Saxon Church in England. In fact, such was his success in uniting the Church that the Venerable Bede was to judge him "the first Archbishop obeyed by all the English Church ".)

And so, once again, the Catholic community began to be absorbed into the life of Faversham. However, the establishment of the Mission under the Oblates wasn't without its problems, an early one being particularly dramatic when a mighty storm struck the town one night in 1902. Torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning kept residents awake and Fr. Mahoney must have been quite shaken when the chimney above the chapel was split right down the centre, with bricks dislodged and crashing down through a glass roof. By now, thoughts of a permanent and more ambitious church building were beginning to take shape for, in the same year, Fr. Krolikowski sought the

21

'

Bishop's approval for a further patron for the future church, namely "Our Lady of Compassion". Thus it was proposed that the church would be known as "Our Lady of Compassion and St. Theodore". But life can't have been easy for the lone priest or for the Order in those early days. In 1903 Fr. Mahoney's collection amounted to an average of "half-a­crown" (twelve and a halfpence!) a week, while the Order had been covering all the expenses of the Mission for some two years but had now come to a point where they could no longer do so. One can therefore sense the enthusiasm of Fr, Mahoney and Fr. Krolikowski when they both contacted the Bishop with some exciting news. This was the time when religious orders were being driven out of France and an order of nuns, the Sisters of St. Francis Regis from the Institution Sainte-Genviere in Asnieres, had expressed an interest in setting up a school in Plantation House. Fr. Mahoney explained that the Chapel, being the present place of public worship, could easily be shut off from the rest of the house and that, if the nuns weren't expelled from France earlier, they were planning on settling into Faversham at about Easter. He sounded at the end of his tether as he added that "by taking the house they will be rendering me a great service, as 1 should not be able to keep up the mission much longer ". His superior endorsed his comments, adding that the nuns were ready to give any help required, such as visiting the sick and needy etc. They were intending to bring over some French girls with them, as pupils, to help cover their expenses but begged to be allowed to also take on a small number of English girls as well. This was the one point where Fr. Krolikowski's enthusiasm seemed to desert him for he observed that the nuns shouldn't expect to get any of these girls either from the town or from the district "for we have no Catholics ofthat class "! And so it was that the nuns duly arrived and were as good as their word, teaching Sunday School, visiting the poor and playing the organ in Church. The community consisted of three Choir Sisters and one Lay Sister, all professed, and soon they had four French girls and, despite Fr. Krolikowski's doubts, ten Day Scholars in their care, and life took on a warmer glow. This feeling was, seemingly, reinforced when, on Tuesday 2nd August, Fr. Mahoney officiated at the wedding of a local girl, Grace Harris, to Frenchman, Henry Froissart. What marked the ceremony as a very special occasion was that it was believed to be the first Catholic marriage in the town since the sixteenth century. However, in spite of these positive developments, the Oblates were apparently facing another major crisis that must have caused consternation at Bishop's House. Exactly a week after the historic marriage, al1 the plans for Faversham were thrown into disarray when, on 9th August, Fr. Krolikowski told the Bishop that the Oblates were having to withdraw Fr. Mahoney from Faversham and that they were therefore intending to leave the town al1 together! Word came not a

moment too soon for tt Order to the United Sta

Fr. Krolikowski in the a distance from Faversl caring for the town's ( approach the Jesuit Fat] any sick cal1s that mig] other arrangements. Pi< that all vestments and box for safety and then left. Fr. Krolikowski's fin circumstances for he Sl

in retaining Plantation I price! However, the 0 Faversham wouldn't b acknowledged that he Order must continue t, Catholic community. Faced with this uncoml their plans and, one irr member of the Order, F Presumably, because 0

House, Fr.de Bruyere r 61 South Road) where 1905, almost six years t again sense a real feeIiI the Bishop's blessing milestone with the bar: establishment. And not possibility of a further t When the Bishop next 1 must have breathed a s retention of the Miss permission to increase t as the chapel had becor great pleasure that his: "with many children ". This year, 1906, was Faversham. One sad a~

moved away, leaving FI flock. There's no indica years later, the Bishop

22

namely "Our Lady I be known as "Our

)rder in those early ~verage of "half-a­Id been covering all lW come to a point

nd Fr. Krolikowski lews. This was the ce and an order of Sainte-Genviere in

1 Plantation House. nt place of public md that, if the nuns 19 on settling into ler as he added that ice, as [ should not 'erior endorsed his Ip required, such as 5 over some French ~gged to be allowed s was the one point or he observed that m the town or from

ood as their word, 'gan in Church. The ister, all professed, owski's doubts, ten

ly 2nd August, Fr. LITis, to Frenchman, 11 occasion was that since the sixteenth

les were apparently rnation at Bishop's lans for Faversham vski told the Bishop Faversham and that '! Word came not a

moment too soon for the Bishop, as Fr. Mahoney was actually being sent by the Order to the United States on a boat sailing from England on 11 th September.

Fr. Krolikowski in the main House in Walmer explained that, as he was at such a distance from Faversham, he would be unable to take on the responsibility for caring for the town's Catholics. Fr. Mahoney had therefore been instructed to approach the Jesuit Fathers at Hales Place in Canterbury to ask them to attend to any sick calls that might be made until such time as His Lordship should make other aJTangements. Plans were obviously well advanced as he went on to say that all vestments and other items were going to be packed up and locked in a box for safety and then Fr. Mahoney would send the key to the Bishop before he left. Fr. Krolikowski's final remark was perhaps a little tactless under the circumstances for he suggested that if the Bishop wasn't particularly interested in retaining Plantation House, he was sure that it could be easily sold for a good price! However, the Order was to discover very quickly that withdrawal from Faversham wouldn't be quite that easy for the very next day the Bishop acknowledged that he had received their proposal but bluntly insisted that the Order must continue to provide Sunday Mass for the so recently established Catholic community. Faced with this uncompromising response, the Oblates were forced to re-assess their plans and, one imagines, with considerable misgivings appointed another member of the Order, Fr. Louis de Bruyere, to the Mission. Presumably, because of the presence of the nuns and the school in Plantation House, Fr.de Bruyere next contacted the Bishop from "Cranbury House" (now 61 South Road) where he was now domiciled. The date was 23rd December 1905, almost six years to the day since the start of the Mission, and one can once again sense a real feeling of optimism in Fr. de Bruyere's request. He asked for the Bishop's blessing on the little Mission as he had just achieved another milestone with the baptising into the Church of its first convert since the re­establishment. And not only that, for he also had high hopes that there was the possibility of a further two conversions. When the Bishop next heard from Fr. de Bruyere, less than three weeks later, he must have breathed a sigh of relief that he had adopted such a firm line on the retention of the Mission. On this occasion, Fr. de Bruyere was seeking permission to increase the number of Masses on Sundays and Feast Days to two, as the chapel had become too small for the congregation! He also reported with great pleasure that his flock had been increased by three new Catholic families "with many children ", This year, 1906, was to prove to be an important one for the Church in Faversham. One sad aspect was that the French nuns closed their school and moved away, leaving Fr. de Bruyere to minister to all the needs of his increasing flock. There's no indication as to why the nuns departed although, some twelve years later, the Bishop when expressing the hope that a Convent school would

23

help place the Mission on a firm footing, added that "there were Sisters at the beginning at Plantation House and it was a misfortune that the Oblate Fathers had discouraged them." In the light of the Order's early enthusiasm, this seems a contradiction, but the actual reason for the closure still remains a mystery. However, on a considerably brighter note, early in the year the town council approved plans for a new place of worship, designed to accommodate about 65 people, to be constructed in the grounds of Plantation Road, to the right of the house. The work was carried out by Ratcliffe Bros., and was completed within four months. The building, in brick, had a porch, Gothic arches and a slate roof, while some windows had leaded lights and others Cathedral glass in two tints. It was described by the local paper as "of modest character both as regards architecture and dimensions " and it was stated there that the seating capacity was "barely more than a hundred". The church actually measured 37 feet by 25 feet with a small sacristy to the left of the altar. At the back of the church, just over the entrance, was a choir and organ gallery, with a Confessional box tucked in beneath the staircase leading to the gallery. The benches were made in American white wood with pine ends and the wooden altar, painted white, was decorated with a painting of the Last Supper, which had been lovingly applied by a Mrs. Searle of Newton Road. Not only was the altar an anonymous gift but so were the sanctuary lamp, the baptismal font and the painted "Stations of the Cross" that adorned the walls. Bishop Amigo travelled down to Faversham on 26th August to open and bless the new Catholic Church at the 11 o'clock Mass, and to dedicate the building to "Our Lady of Compassion and Sf. Theodore ", Evidently, the limited accommodation was sorely tried as a considerable number of curious non­Catholics joined the celebration. (In 1921, Bishop Amigo was to explain to the Parish that the titles of the Mission had been chosen in the hope of a speedy conversion of the district, as there had been started, at about the time when the church was built, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Compassion with just that objective. Also, of course, St. Theodore had once again been chosen because he had done so much for the unity and organisation of the Anglo-Saxon Church.) On that August day when the Bishop opened the new church, he also took the opportunity to confer Confirmation on six prepared candidates, thus establishing yet another "first", as it was the first time since the Reformation that a Catholic Bishop had administered the Sacrament in the town. By 1909 there was a £550 mortgage on Plantation House and the land it stood on, but the little church was free of debt. Interestingly, it was claimed that the church would now accommodate 130 people and this would seem to be slightly reflected in the offertories which now amounted to £22 for the year - that's still only about 45p a week, but at least an improvement on the 25p of 1903! Still, there were now seven altar servers, Confessions were heard every Saturday between 6 and 8 p.m. and at call, and the Church was kept open every morning and also in the evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.

24

It is difficult nov involved at this t the sacrifices th~

They had two h, total of just four when they finall~

was to remain in Peter Boyson wh

there were Sisters at the : that the Oblate Fathers enthusiasm, this seems a ~mains a mystery. e year the town council ) accommodate about 65 Road, to the right of the ld was completed within ; arches and a slate roof, :dral glass in two tints. It rracter both as regards that the seating capacity , measured 37 feet by 25 back of the church, just

Confessional box tucked benches were made in altar, painted white, was ld been lovingly applied tr an anonymous gift but painted "Stations of the

ugust to open and bless dedicate the building to Evidently, the limited .umber of curious non­go was to explain to the n the hope of a speedy ibout the time when the mpassion with just that been chosen because he nglo-Saxon Church.) :hurch, he also took the jdates, thus establishing lrmation that a Catholic

se and the land it stood it was claimed that the mId seem to be slightly for the year - that's still the 25p of 1903! Still, heard every Saturday

lpt open every morning

It is difficult now to realise what a struggle it must have been for all the clergy involved at this time and parishioners should certainly remember with gratitude the sacrifices that the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales must have made for us. They had two houses in the diocese, at Walmer and Faversham, with a grand total of just four priests and yet they continued to serve the Mission until 1911 when they finally relinquished it to the care of Diocesan priests. Fr. de Bruyere was to remain in his post almost until the end but was relieved in 1910 by Fr. Peter Boyson who took over as Rector for the last few months.

25