| 1876 to 1884 |
| 1876 |
Ten Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus,
religious exiles from Germany, settled in Southam at The Hall (the
Sisters renamed it 'Bethlehem', now The Olde House Retreat) where
they set up their chapel on the ground floor. |
|
|
| 1878 |
A corrugated Iron church, seating 150,
was moved to Southam from Cardiff, It was a gift of Father Grosvenor
(1826 - 1891), of Princethorpe. |
|
|
| 1882 |
The Annual Report of the Sister's
Orphanage stated:
'...What we now especially need is more Church accommodation,
not only for ourselves; but also for the Catholics of the neighbourhood,
who have no other Church within a radius of 8 miles, where they
can attend.' |
|
|
| 1884 |
The Convent Chronicle reported that:
'Bishop Ullathorne on hearing that four families have become Catholics
decided that the Convent Chapel should be used for the Parish...'
|
| |
|
| 1886 to 1924 |
| 1886 |
First English Priest becomes Chaplin
at Southam (Father Taylor). He was described as '...very
active and did much for the people of Southam' Presbytery
built at Southam. Mother Fey, of the Sisters of the Poor Child
Jesus asked that this be built for a Priest and she prayed that
'...St Joseph might send us a good one'. |
|
|
| 1898 |
16 October Original Church taken down
and new iron Church erected at Southam. This came from Birmingham
where it had been built for a mission that did not materialise.
The blessing took place on 26 October. |
| |
|
| 1902 |
The large convent was built and the
hall (Bethlehem) became fondly known in the order and within Southam
as 'The Old House' |
| |
|
| 1913 |
Charles Conrad Shaw makes his initial
offer of �5,000 to build the church at Southam. Plans had to
be suspended due to 1914-18 War. |
|
|
| 1914 |
Iron Church at Southam moved to Children's
playground. It is said that this was moved in the school holidays
by local quarrymen. |
|
|
| 1924 |
(June) For the first time since the
reformation a procession of the Blessed Sacrament walked through the
streets of Southam on the feast of 25 September - Building commences
of current Southam Church. |
| |
|
| 1925 to 1971 |
| 1925 |
19 January (Feast of St Wulstan) The
Foundation stone of the Church was laid by Msgr. Cronin, President
of Oscott College. The Church was completed on 1 July and Sister
Mary Sales slowly decorated the interior with her paintings. |
|
|
| 1937 |
Formation of The Catholic Womens League. |
|
|
| 1952 |
A new alabaster High Altar was installed. |
|
|
| 1956 |
14 May - The Consecration of the Church
by Most Reverend Francis Grimshaw, Archbishop of Birmingham. |
|
|
| 1971 |
Negotiations commenced to transfer the
Church to the Parish. |
| |
|
| 1972 to 2006 |
| 1972 |
The Church was legally taken over by
the Archdiocese. As part of the agreement a Right of way from
the Convent to the Church had to be preserved for as long as the Sisters
of the Poor Child Jesus were in Southam and a Daily Mass arranged
at a time suitable for the old sisters. The Archdiocese also
bought the Presbytery and made provision for the Sisters to convert
one of the rooms in the Convent into a Chapel for their own use. |
| |
|
| 1989 |
The Old House was renovated and renamed
'The Olde House Retreat' - both to keep with tradition and to acknowledge
its new identity as a Retreat Centre. |
| |
|
| 1995 |
The New Church Hall opened. |
|
|
| 2006 |
Mass of Thanksgiving to commemorate
the 50th Anniversary of the solemn dedication of the Church. |
