A Short History of the Parish of St Columba's Bridgemary.

Background

In May 1951, the Gosport Council purchased the land "East of Rowner Lane" from Lt Col House, of Grafton Manor, Stubbington, for the explicit purpose of expanding the housing facilities of the town. The head of the housing committee, at that time, was Councillor Nobes, the road that borders the church is named after him.

In all planning, open areas were left for the building of schools and churches for all religions, and were open to all with the need and the necessary financial backing. This area came under the jurisdiction of the parish of Lee-on-the-Solent's parish priest, Father Hennessy, whose boundaries included Hill Head and Stubbington.

In those days there was no Saturday Masses and the Provincial Bus Service started at 11am on Sunday's from Fareham to the Gosport Ferry only. Most of the people living on the new council estate were young families with small children, and were unable to make the journey to any of the existing churches to attend Sunday Mass. To overcome this problem, Father Hennessy said Mass first in people's houses, then, later, at Nobes Hall, at the junction of Nobes Avenue and Brewers Lane, which doubled for the library at that time.

Over a short space of time more and more houses were built, and more Catholics arrived in the area, and the space in Nobes Hall could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. Three families figured largely in the action taken to build what is now Saint Columba's Parish Church, and they are the families of: Terry Hutchings, Tony Jones and Thomas Hanham. Every method of fund-raising was employed to create the finances needed to build the Church, and in February 1954, the land on which the Church now stands was purchased from Gosport Council through the committee set up for this purpose: The Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees. Planning permission had now been granted and the work of clearing the land of trees and rubble began. The parish records show that the Church was completed in 1955.

Forming of a New Parish.

Although there was now an adequate parish church in Bridgemary that could comfortably accommodate all the Catholics from Bridgemary and Rowner districts it was, in effect, a Mass centre and internal part of the Parish of Lee-on-the-Solent under Father Hennessy.

More people attended Mass at St Columba's than at the Church of St John the Evangelist, the Parish Church at Lee-on-the-Solent, on Sunday's due to the rapid expansion of Bridgemary and Rowner. Added to this, a large Royal Naval married quarters were being built on the land bordering Rowner Road to the south. In was becoming obvious that the system of Bridgemary being served by Lee-on-the-Solent needed re-thinking. With the consent of the Bishop of Portsmouth, Arch Bishop King, and his administrator, Bishop Holland, the parish of St Columba was formed to serve both Bridgemary and Rowner.

The people prominent in this move were: Tony Jones and Terry Hutchings, but this time joined by Arthur Larcombe, who joined the parish in 1955. The place of parish priest was covered by Father Jolley until a permanent parish priest could be appointed. Ft Jolley did sterling work in this 'New parish' and rode everywhere on his bicycle which belonged to one of the parishioners who worked on night shift so the bike was free during the day, nothing was wasted. Each evening before the owner of the bike rose to have a meal before going off to work Father Jolley would return the bike. There was usually a short conversation between Ft Jolley and the parishioner, Ft Jolley would insist that there was a better programme on a different channel than the one the parishioner was watching.

Review the work of parish priests in chronological order.

Father Denis Ryan

The first full time parish priest was appointed was Father Denis Ryan who had been curate in Basingstoke. Fr. Ryan's first task was to establish an infra structure, much of which is still in place. Fr Ryan's first major action was to build the Iona Hall which would act as a source of income which would help repay some of the debt incurred in buying the land and building the church. The current presbytery had yet to be built and Fr. Ryan was housed by the council in the house by the church car park in Fisher Road. Later, Fr. Ryan negan a Planned Giving Scheme which followed on from a door-to-door parish survey undertaken by members of the parish.

The Church, during this time, was undergoing change, and reading the epistle and bidding prayers by the laity was an innovation. For those working the night shift and service personnel Sunday evening Mass was found to be most convenient. Much of the church furnishing; votive candle holders, Stations of the Cross, Altar linen, Vestments etc, had to be purchased. All this work was undertaken by Ft Ryan and it is to him that the credit must go for turning St Columba's into a viable parish, and it was only due to ill health which required surgery that necessitated him being replaced.

Father Ilsly/Father Antony Box

The Sacre Coer de Bettheram Fathers, whose English province was at their college in Droitwich, Worcester, sent two priests to take over the parish; Father Ilsly. S.C.J and Father Anthony Box. S.C.J. Fr. Ilsly's stay was a short one, just one year, when he was transferred by the bishop to the Star of the Sea parish of St Sampson, Guernsey, Channel Islands, where he remained until his death. Fr. Ilsly had spent the whole of his priesthood up until the time he came to St Columba's in teaching, and his only experience of parish work was as a supply priest, nevertheless, he settled down into parish life very well.

Father Collier/Father Box

Father Ilsly was replaced by Father Percy Collier. S.C.J (Father Box's teacher at Seminary) as parish priest, and Father Box was his curate. Later Ft Collier was moved to Lee-on-the-Solent on the death of Ft Hennessy leaving Ft Box as Parish Priest at St Columba's.

He instituted the Mass at the Spread Eagle Community Centre on the Naval Married Quarters Estate of Rowner.

He was later able to change the venue to the Church of Our Lady the Virgin, the oldest church in the area, once Catholic, now Church of England, it was indeed a step forward to ecumenism. The presbytery was built, and the church organ was installed during Father Collier's time. Father Collier played the organ and taught music, several people owe their skill at the keyboard to him. Father Collier was unable to drive or even ride a bicycle so he walked everywhere. He could be seen walking, in all weathers, many miles from the church, on his way to visit his people. When offered a lift by a parishioner it would merely mean that he had more time to see other parishioners.

During his time Father Collier built a new church on the site of the old one, and bought a house. He continued teaching, music to anyone with the enthusiasm to learn, right up to the end. On leaving St Columba's he became Parish Priest at Lee-on-the-Solent, Father Collier died in 1993. R.I.P.

Father Box/Father Jack Waddops. S.C.J

Fr. Box appointed the first Eucharist Ministers, and catechism for the children was started in the Iona Hall. He was first assisted by the Holy Soul Sisters from Portsmouth, then trained members of the parish to continue the work. Training was undertaken at La Sainte Union in Southampton, Father Box was part of the team of compilers. Later he was chaplain to St Anne's school, Southampton, then chaplain at Oaklands College, Waterlooville.

Fr. Waddops was sent to to St Columba's as curate to Father Box. Fr. Waddops was a man of many talents, having been Vicar General and Vice Provincial, and he taught the Patriarch of Jerusalem, he spoke several languages fluently, including Arabic, Greek and Hebrew. A great man and much appreciated for his sermons. Father Waddops died after a short illness. R.I.P. Father box served this parish for thirteen years when transferred to Great Barr, Birmingham, where he is to this date (1999)

Father Tom Kelly. S.C.J.

Fr. Kelly was the last Sacre Coer de Betheram priest to be appointed to St Columba's.

He was responsible for much of the major improvements of the church was undertaken during Fr. Tom's time.

The lowered ceiling was installed to reduce the heating costs incurred through a very old and inefficient heating system, at this same time the whole sanctuary floor was replaced due to dry rot by Michael Edwards and supervised by Bill Leech.

Next a completely new heating system was installed. Work continued throughout the night by Peter Webster and Michael Edwards in order that it be completed in time for Sunday Mass. Fr. Tom refused to go to bed while the work was being carried out and spent the night bringing tea and food to the workers. During the early hours Fr. Tom was challenged by two plain-clothed policemen who thought he was acting in a suspicious manner. He managed to convince them who he was before they carted him off to the station for further enquiries.

New double glazed windows were installed and the grotto of Our Lady was built in time for Marian Year. There was a number of maintenance work identified during the five year diocese inspection which were dealt with.

The Altar , lecterns and seats were replaced by Bill Leech, a carpenter trained by the Royal Navy. His work was exemplary, a blind man could follow his work from church to church and know his work. Bill would be very embarrassed to know that this has been written about him, however, if this is to be an accurate and detailed his name could not be left out. The sound system was also added giving voice to the readers and celebrants. There were other contributions to the church, many anonymous which should remain so as that was the condition of their generosity.

In the vestibule a plaque to those who gave funds for the new Stations of the Cross can be seen which replaced the old crumbling ones that have been there from the start. Father Tom Kelly was to be the last of the Sacre Coeur de Betharram Fathers. Falling vocations throughout the country caused every diocese to think in terms of expediency and to look after their own parishes needs. With great regret and sadness felt by every member of the parish, Father Tom returned to Droitwich, and for a time it seemed that we were not to have a replacement. The parish may turn full circle and become a Mass Centre once more.

Father Walter Beale,

Newly returned from Rhodesia where he served as chaplain to the armed forces in that country, arrived. Father Walter was moved after two years to work in a pastoral centre.

Father David Adams.

Father David was to introduce the technology of the twentieth century in the shape of a computerised system.

The parish was settling down when Father Foley from the Gosport Parish retired, a long serving priest and one time Dean, who had become a legend in his lifetime. Now approaching a grand age he decided to retire to Ireland.

With the reduction of the Royal Navy and the closing of most of the married quarters in the area, compounded by reductions in the dockyard, and most of the local industry, some consolidation was inevitable with the manning of parishes. The average age of parishioners was rising as the young people moved away with their work and therefore fewer children meant where once there were twenty plus for First Holy Communion classes, seven was a more likely number. Mass Centre loomed once more but hope was on the horizon.

Father Jozef Gruszkiewicz.

Bishop Crispian had enlisted Father Jo , a polish priest who had just finished work as a missionary in South African, to act as assistant to Father David Adams who would move to St Mary's in Gosport High Street replacing Father Foley.

The parishes of Bridgemary and Gosport have now been joined into a single Parish of Gosport.

Copyright © 2001 by the Catholic Church Gosport 

Page maintained by Mary Withers. 

Email:-

Email:-
Last modified: 31st January 2004