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The Baroness Pauline von Hugel is usually regarded as the Foundress of Corpus Christi, although it would be more correct to see her as one of a trio who were the main founders, the others being
Father de Lapasture and Miss Ellen Redmayne.
The daughter of an Austrian diplomat, Pauline von Hugel had early in life decided to devote herself to charitable and religious works. After the death of her father, Pauline and her mother, Elizabeth von Hugel, had settled in Bournemouth, together with a close family friend, Miss Ellen Redmayne.
From the time when Father de Lapasture became responsible for the Boscombe and Pokesdown district in 1884, Pauline von Hugel became a constant helper. When in 1887 the need of a church building became urgently necessary, she offered to provide financially for a temporary building of a school/chapel. The Superior of the Sacred Heart Church was doubtful about the project, and Pauline vigorously urged the need.
Eventually, a temporary building was obtained from the Portsmouth Diocese, and Pauline contributed generously to the furnishings and equipment, which was opened in 1888.
A few years later, when the congregation had outgrown the temporary building, it was decided to build a replacement church. It was about this time that Miss Redmayne inherited a considerable sum of money and she placed at the disposal of her friend Pauline von Hugel a sum sufficient for the building of the church.
Pauline carried through all the business related to the church and she and her mother contributed considerably to the furnishing of the church.
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Inscription on Brass Tablet
In Honour
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, ever present in the Blessed
Sacrament,
This Church, under the title of Corpus Christi, was built by
The Baroness Pauline von Hugel
Who spent her life in the service of the poor
and in all good works
It was solemnly opened, Septr. 8th, 1896, by
The Rt. Rev. John Vertue, first Bishop of Portsmouth,
And given with the Presbytery and other Endowment
To the Fathers of the Society of Jesus.
This Tablet was erected by the
Fathers and Congregation of the Church
In Grateful Memory
of the Foundress who died March 29th, 1901,
of her faithful friend,
Mary Ellen Redmayne, who died February 7th, 1902,
And of others who assisted her in the establishment
of the Mission
In order that they who worship in this beautiful house
Of God may ever remember them in prayer.
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The church of Corpus Christi was commenced in 1895 and was opened on 8th September 1896 by Bishop Vertue. The Baroness gave the church to the Fathers of the Society of Jesus.
During the remaining five years of her life, Pauline von Hugel worked in the parish; she was an active member of parish societies, she formed a small choir for which she herself played an harmonium, was a regular visitor to the Holy Cross School, and was particularly interested in the needs of the poor.
Pauline died at the age of only 43 and at her own request, was buried in the small churchyard at Stratton on the Fosse, in the shadow of Downside Abbey Church.
Next to her grave are buried her mother and friend Mary Ellen Redmayne, whose hundredth anniversary fell on February 7th 2002.
Her work is commemorated on large brass plaque mounted on the wall at the rear of the church. The hundredth anniversary of her death fell on 29th March, 2001 and a mass said in her memory by Father Beattie SJ.
John Young DMA
The inscription on her grave, reads:
'PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF
Pauline,
the beloved daughter of
BARON CHARLES VON HUGEL &
ELIZABETH HIS WIFE.
BORN AT FLORENCE NOV. 3rd 1857
DIED AT BOSCOMBE MARCH 29th 1901'
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