PARISH HISTORY

St Patrick's Parish has its origins in the middle of the 19th century. Large number of Irish families who had fled from the famine at home and found work mainly in transport construction works in the West Midlands settled in this part of Wolverhampton.

We should be grateful to the Sisters of Mercy who came to Wolverhampton in 1848 (and served the Parish until 1984 – see Hope Community history) and, having taken over a school at SS Peter and Paul's, were keen to start another to reach out to the Wolverhampton Irish in the locality. To this end an area of land of 660 square yards was purchased for £198 and the school was formally opened by Dr Ullathorne, Bishop of the Central District in 1849. On the floor above the school rooms a chapel was dedicated to St George and St Patrick. 

In the nineteenth century, in particular the forties and fifties, many Irish Catholics came to Wolverhampton especially from Galway, Roscommon and Mayo. The established SS Peter & Paul and the newly opened SS Mary & John could not accommodate the number of people desiring to celebrate Mass. The number of Catholics in Wolverhampton had risen from 600 in 1800 to 5,500 by 1881. The Bishop recognised the need for a new parish to meet the spiritual needs of the growing Catholic population, the majority being newly-arrived Irish. As there was already an Anglican Church of St George in Wolverhampton, the name St Patrick was chosen for the new parish, this was most appropriate given the large percentage of Irish desiring a new Church.

Thus it was that in 1865 the parish of St Patrick was founded with the purchase of some more land and the building of the Church. The foundation stone of St Patrick's Church was laid in 1866 by Father O'Sullivan at the corner of Littles Lane and Carberry Street (now Westbury Street). Have a glance at the aerial photograph of the Church on the front cover, taken in the 1960's.

Many of the congregation lived in ‘Carribee Island’, the heart of industrial Wolverhampton. The island was bounded by Stafford Street, Back Lane, Carberry Street and Canal Street (later called Broad Street). Father Walter Hall was the first Parish Priest and he it was, who oversaw the building of the Church. It was designed in the Gothic style by Edward Welby Pugin.

Father Hall guided the parish through its formative years until 1893. Assisting him from 1885 was Father James Darmody (his name appears on the foundation stone of the workhouse / Hospital at New Cross, the entrance to the general office) who succeeded him as Parish  Priest and did much to beautify the Church including a sanctuary floor of mosaic work and extensive use of Irish and Italian marbles.

Other priests serving the parish include Father McDonnell until 1926, Father Lockett until 1934, Father O'Connor until 1943 (supported by Fr. Thomas Cahill SCJ for a few years). Then from 1943–1964 Fr. William Rooney. Many people remember with affection the fund raising acumen of Father Rooney! There was the legendary raffle: the cigarettes and the whiskey that would never be claimed but would appear again and again as prizes. Father Rooney would carry his  tickets to all the local pubs including the Warwick and the Dan O'Connell (named after the great Catholic emancipator). 

In 1948 the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev. J Masterson dedicated the Compton pipe Organ in memory of those who lost their lives in the two World Wars. The organ was carefully transferred to the new Church in the early seventies. 

Many of our parishioners remember crossing the canal bridge and descending the nineteen steps to St Patrick's school. The Sisters of Mercy were very much in evidence Sister Mary Aquinas and Sister Mary Agnes. The school would later be extended to include secondary education for girls.

We were blessed for many years with the presence of the Polish community at St Patrick's in Littles Lane, a weekly Sunday Mass was offered and the Polish club behind the church sold delicacies as a reminder of home. 'Na Chwałę Bogu na Pożytek Polskiej  Społeczności w Tysiąclecie' (In the glory of God for the good of Polish society) was written up on the foundation stone of the new Church and club in Stafford Road in September 1971. 

From 1964 Father Anthony Allport (later Canon) served for 38 years and presided over the building of a new Church and contributed so much to Catholic and spiritual life in Wolverhampton (Parish Priest of St Patrick’s 1974-2002, died 2014).

By 1964 many town centre developments were planned, forty streets of houses had been demolished and former parishioners were now spread among the outlying parishes of the town. The planned inner ring road meant our original location would have to be cleared, but not before a new site had been identified and acquired. Thanks to the fortitude and determination of Canon Allport the ideal site was found adjacent to Heath Town Park next door to New Cross Hospital and beside the Heath Town redevelopment.

The development commenced in 1970 comprising a Church, Parish Hall and Presbytery. The late Ernie Carrier (our organist for years) enjoyed explaining the process of construction, a process that included pile driving and the laying of a very deep foundation that is because we are built on an old mine shaft. 

On 17th January 1971 Bishop Joseph Cleary laid the foundation stone, and the church was solemnly blessed by Archbishop George Dwyer in 1972.

Designed on semi-traditional lines, the new church is cruciform in plan and provides seating for 400 people. The layout conforms to the conditions required for the liturgy. The plan contains a chapel for daily worship (which also has dual use as a cry chapel for Sunday Mass), in addition to the main church.

The internal decor is worthy of note: the ceiling of folded plasterwork is a modern conception of the historical baldachin, or canopy, uniting the priest and faithful around the Altar. This was designed and constructed by Trumper brothers of Birmingham and aids the acoustics. The statues and Stations of the Cross were designed in Austria and finished in lime wood. A young-looking Saint Patrick is in an alcove flanked by specially designed stained glass windows. Above this alcove in the wall of the main block is a stained glass window representing creation. The red cross at its centre symbolises Redemption. Twelve lights surround the red cross representing the apostles.

Fr. Allport was always conscious of the wishes of the people to remember the ties with the old church and during the demolition of the original St Patrick’s he ‘rescued’ a number of items which he felt could be integrated into the new church. Seven of the stained glass windows are originals from the old church renovated to provide a permanent link with the former grand building: the three over the main altar and the four in the side chapel. The organ we have already mentioned. In addition he brought the old crib set with him which is still in use every Christmas to this day.

Canon Allport was delighted to facilitate the move of the Midlands Catholic Covenant Scheme (later to become Gift Aid), which was led by the late Mr Brian Waddell, to offices in St Patrick's Church Hall. One of the Covenant scheme team continues to support the parish in administering Gift Aid. 

The parish was delighted to witness the ordination of one of its own: Father Thomas Kelly ordained on 8th September 1974. The Union of Catholic Mothers (who have given so much to the parish over the years) organised a reception in the Church Hall.

Other priests that have served for varying periods include:

• Fr. Paul Orchard 1972-1975, 
• Fr. Edwin Cownley 1975-1979, 
• Fr. Eric Woodhead 1979-1980, 
• Fr. James Dutton 1980-1981, 
• Fr. Michael Stack 1987-1990, 
• Fr. Jon Seeney 1990-1991, 
• Fr. Marcus Stock 1991, 
• Fr. Paul Fitzpatrick 1991-1993, 
• Fr. Jonathan Veasey 1993-1994, 
• Fr. Patrick Cocklin 1995-1998, 
• Fr. Brendan Carrick 2002-2004, 
• Fr. Eamon Corduff 2004-2011, 
• Fr. Martin Pratt 2011,
• Fr. Dawid Piskorz from 2012.

In 2011, after much fund-raising, under the watchful eye of Fr. Eamon, new stained glass windows were designed by Deb Lowe from Pendle Stained Glass and installed on the south elevation of the nave. They use colour and symbols to illustrate ‘the Life of St Patrick’: his early life, his mission in Ireland, his work and teachings and finally continuing faith through the ages. The five lights, each over 4 metres high, illuminate the entire nave so great care was taken to balance the light levels. The aim of this design was to create an atmosphere that is both calm and uplifting, to celebrate the Life of our Patron and 150 years of worship at St Patrick’s church, Wolverhampton.

In 2014 following yet more fundraising Fr. Dawid commissioned Deb Lowe to design the ‘Modern Day Saints’ stained glass windows on the south side of the nave. They represent St Therese of Lisieux, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, and harmonise with the ‘Life of St Patrick’ designs on the other side. A banner of rich colour runs through the centre of each light, bordered by a variety of clear textured glass to allow plenty of light into the church. The windows were blessed by Bishop McGough on St Patrick’s Day 2015.

There are many reasons to be encouraged when we reflect on the variety of work going on in the parish of Saint Patrick, week by week, year by year. We are a truly multiracial and multicultural Parish blessed with people of many nationalities. They enrich us with their presence. We are particularly fortunate to have a sizeable Keralan and Filipino community of nurses worshiping here, as well as people from many other countries, too many to mention here.

We are grateful for every type of service and group in our Parish: the Friends of St Patrick, Parish SVP Group, Finance Committee, Liturgical Committee, Social Committee, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Readers, Altar Servers, St Patrick’s Youth Choir, Children’s Liturgy group, church keepers, parish pilgrimage organisers, church ushers, counters, Sunday Cafe volunteers, annual event volunteers, church display workers, flower arrangers and brass polishers, offertory procession volunteers, offertory collectors, piety stall volunteers, gardeners, parish treasurer and Gift Aid Organiser, catechists, Hope Community staff and volunteers, school staff and governors, etc.