Tunbridge Wells,
September 9th 1887

Dear Very Rev. Father Provincial,

You will think me troublesome and obstinate in again bringing up the subject of Boscombe when you had settled it not many months ago, but I hope you will excuse me when I tell you one or two of the reasons - The first is a parocual one. I have this sum of money to dispose of. I think I can spend it on no better work than on a chapel of some kind. Bournemouth being my home, and my owing a great debt of gratitude to the Jesuits would make me prefer to spend it there to any other place.

Therefore I have kept the money still, hoping that circumstances might make it possible to do something for Boscombe. Father de Lapasture knows nothing of my writing and who, I believe, will surprised at my boldness and dissuade me from doing so.

A good religious no doubt submits his judgement as well as his outward acts to his superior, but as I am not a religious I must say quite honestly and simply that I think the Jesuits are throwing away a good, though by no means a brilliant offer.

I beg of you very earnestly to give me no decided answer now, in fact not to answer my letter at all, but when you go down to Bournemouth to look into the matter for yourself. I write now because I believe this is about the time of the year when you usually visit Bournemouth.

Father Birch is a good and kind man, but he knows comparatively little about the parish, ill health etc, giving him little time or opportunity, and he is very conservative - whatever is and was, must be right.

This demand for a chapel as Boscombe has been coming up at intervals for years, but Father Birch has I believe always said "vair - when it becomes a real need something will turn up and bring it about" - a very wise answer, only people have waited and something has turned up, and nothing has been brought about.

Before, I judged of things as an eyewitness. I used to say "it's all nonsense, of course a Chapel is not needed, there are not many Catholics and abroad they have to walk greatest distances. "But now I have seen and know for myself. The Catholics are increasing, although slowly compared to what will be the case if there were a Chapel. Boscombe itself is a rising place.

Our London Doctor told us he far preferred it as a health resort to Bournemouth. As Boscombe is becoming a little centre for itself with it's own shops, station etc, Catholics are settling near it, but even beyond it still further from the church. No doubt people walk further in Catholic countries, but in Rome one must do like the Romans.

The Protestant churches in Bournemouth see the need for these chapels of ease and are establishing them all over the place. It seems hard that only the true religion should remain under presented.

Moreover the Church at Bournemouth is growing too small. Some of our poor have to stand the whole of a long service after a long walk, others cannot get beyond the porch. It would cost a very large sum to enlarge that strangely built church, it would cost a very much smaller one to start a little mission at Boscombe, and do far more good.

Put it at its local and that the poor can be induced to go, a sermon is about an impossible to many who on account of the distance can only go to one low Mass on Sunday - such Catholics soon forget everything.

My second reason for writing is that so far as I can make out you decided against the plan chiefly on account of money reasons, thinking it would involve the Society in fresh expenses when there was a still an old and heavy debt upon the Church.

But as I should not intend that Jesuits to have any expense in serving Boscombe, and do not intend giving up little £300 to be swallowed up in a big debt. I can't see how the Society can be the richer or that poorer by the plan being given up - I have since thought that you might have thought that I was young and should back out of the business after it was started.

But I am nearly thirty and know my mind quite well. I have also thought that you may have thought it would entail another priest being at Bournemouth. And that this would be an expense.

Of course Father DeLapasture is by rights due at the Convent, but every Sunday, except during the holidays, a secular priest attends at the Convent, and that is the only day a priest would be wanted for Boscombe; also during the holiday time there are generally other Fathers on a visit to Bournemouth who can say Mass in the Church - the chief objections that I can see comes that I asked for a good deal, and that Father Birch is opposed to the plan.

But I have since thought this. If I asked for no school, only hired a room or put up a tin chapel, that could reduce the expenses so much that I could afford to pay for another Father at Bournemouth quite easily.

I know a strong active one you could not spare, but an old delicate one would do, just to help with the classes in the Church. In this way Bournemouth would lose nothing

Also this plan would much lessen the other difficulty: as I think Father Birch objects to the school, more than to the chapel. He has a great horror of government inspection and has spent much upon the Bournemouth school, it is but natural to dislike the idea of many of his best scholars being taken away from it.

If a school was needed at Boscombe that could come later on as a place grew and became self-supporting. All I can see is that Father Birch would thus be £30 or £40 in pocket, as he has a nice altar etc. that came from St Josephs house stored away in the Presbytery which I could buy off him - there is much more I could say, but as I am not a man I can't put things well.

When you go to Bournemouth Father DeL and Miss Paley who has a Sunday School at Boscombe could tell you much more and much better - You may say it a fresh burden upon the shoulders of our one strong Father - Father DeL - but I don't think it means much more work, and the encouragement to all his zeal for souls would more than make up to him I know.

He should always drive and have a good breakfast. I pledge myself not to be disagreeable or to put myself forward in any of the arrangements; it shall all be left in the hands of the Fathers. If after enquiring into it all, you still decide it an imprudent and useless plan, I will submit loyally and certainly not grumble - I am afraid this is not a correct way to write to a Father Provincial, but as I don't know the right way, please excuse and believe that it is from no want of respect.

Yours respectfully


Pauline von Hugel