|
A brief History.
Virgo Fidelis, (Church of
The Faithful Virgin), Upper Norwood.
In 1842 Mass was said for the first time in Upper Norwood in a Temperance hall,
because the nearest Catholic church was St. Georges Cathedral, Southwark.
In the year 1848 some nuns of the Society of the Faithful Virgin
came from La Deliverande in Northern France with their founderess Mother St.
Mary and their chaplain Fr. Michael Veque. They came at the invitation of
Cardinal Wiseman to establish an orphanage for the many children who came to
England as a consequence of the Potato Famine in Ireland.
Picture of Virgo Fidelis (Church of the Faithful Virgin)
interior today
The
convent chapel, was built in 1871 in memory of Bishop Thomas Grant.
Bishop
Thomas Grant had a great love of Norwood and was a frequent visitor to the
Sisters and the children. A strong friendship developed with
Fr. Veque.
Bishop Grant who battled with the onset of cancer in 1867 and despite
being excused from the first Vatican Council he travelled to Rome to be present.
He died in Rome at the English College, 1st June 1870.
At his
instruction his body was returned to be buried next to his friend Fr. Veque in
the cemetery in the school grounds.
The
Convent Chapel which now serves as the Parish Church was opened by Bishop
Dannell, Grant’s successor as Bishop of Southwark, also present were Cardinal
Manning and Bishop Morris along with clergy and benefactors.
The church was
designed by the Architect William Goldie, at the cost of
£7000!
Picture of the
Church at the turn of the Century
The
high beamed roof which is 45ft high. The long aisle which is 170 ft long and the
width 36ft. Above the sanctuary there are four stained glass windows
representing the Annunciation, the Presentation, Calvary and the Assumption.
Annunciation
Window
Another stained glass window is to be found in the entrance to the sacristies to
St. Michael the Archangel. This window was erected in memory of Major Awdry
Vancour, M.C.; D.F.C. from the Royal Flying Corps He was shot down accidentally
by allied forces on 16th July 1918. His family lived in Upper Norwood
and he was a former pupil of St. Joseph’s College, Beulah Hill.
The
work of the Catholic community in Upper Norwood has flourished. The parish is
alive with activities which are reflected in worship and outreach. The sister’s
work continues in the Virgo Fidelis Schools a Senior school for girls and a
preparatory school.
Also the St. Mary’s Family Centre which provides much needed
support for families under stress.
|
