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Prior to the start of the Second World War
a Catholic Church in Churchdown did not exist. The Catholics in
the village had to cycle or go by train to Gloucester or Cheltenham
to go to Church.On the 2nd September 1939, some 200 children accompanied
by Nuns and lay teachers were evacuated from St.Anne’s School
Birmingham to be accommodated in Churchdown.
On the following day the 3 September 1939 (the day the 2nd World
War was declared), for the first time since the Reformation, Mass
was celebrated in Churchdown by Canon Matthew Roche from St.Peter’s
Church in Gloucester in the Assembly Room of the Chosen Hotel (a
pub). Priests from Gloucester, Prinknash Abbey and the Salesian
School at Blaisdon served the Mass Centre at the Chosen Hotel.
In 1942, the Mass Centre was moved to the Skittle Alley at the Hare
& Hounds(another pub) and in August 1944 was moved to the Sandycroft
Social Club, whichwas later to be destroyed by fire.
In 1954, it was decided that a permanent Catholic Church was now
needed in Churchdown. An existing farm building was chosen in Cheltenham
Road East (opposite Pirton Lane) this was converted into a church
and when it was opened, it was dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual
Succour.
The farmhouse became The Presbytery. Canon Mathew Roche
administered the newly formed parish until the appointment of the
first permanent priest Father Edward Moriarty in 1957, Father John
Lee succeeded him in 1968, and we welcomed Father Donal
Daly in July 1984.
Father Donal
served the parish until his retirement. His shoes were then filled
by our current Parish Priest Father Kevin Hennessey in September
2005.
During the 30 years since the farm building was converted to a church,
the building deteriorated badly and became too costly to maintain.
In 1990 it was decided to demolish the old church and build a new
one on the same site. Services during the interim period where held
at The Horizons Centre until our present Church was built in 1992.
This is the distinguishable red brick building opposite the Pirton
Lane.
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