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| Bournemouth Church History |
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1885. Parish Priest Rev Schomberg Kerr. (pictured right) Cardinal Mervyn De Val took communion.
1887. Schomberg Kerr starts fund for larger building.
1888: The iron chapel of the Convent of the Holy Cross at Boscombe was opened as a chapel of ease for the church. Mass was sung by Fr. de Lapasture appointed to this district. Fr. Kerr arrived as Superior of Bournemouth. About this time Cardinal Merry del Val, whose cause had been introduced at Rome, made his first Communion in this church.
1889: St. Joseph's Altar was blessed by the Bishop.
1890. Rev Clooney starts enlargement of church.
1891: Fr. Cooney became Superior, the other members of the staff being Fr. W. Johnson, Fr. de Lapasture and Fr. de Zulucta.
Auxiliary chapel of the Immaculate Conception opened at Westbourne on April 9th. It began through the kindness and zeal of Mrs. Teixeira in a room of her house at Lynnecourt. Marlhorough Road, being moved later to Sidney Villa, Middle Head. Fr. de Zulucta was the first Priest in charge.
Mrs. Littledale's jewelled eiborium arrived. July 3rd was the opening day of the enlargement of St. Walburga's School.
1895: Windsor cottages and wooden chapel demolished.
The foundation stone of Boscombe church was laid by the Bishop. It was opened in the following year, and the next year the Boscombe presbytery passed into the hands of the Society. At the same lime the boundaries of the new parish of Boscombe were fixed by the Bishop.
Fr. de Lapasture (pictured left) migrated from Bournemouth to become the first Parish Priest of Boscombe.
1896. Foundations of enlarged church laid. Architect A.J.Pilkington.
The Tabernacle, the work of Messrs. Hardman and Powell. was presented by Mr. and Mrs. Brand of Glasgow who had passed the winter and spring in Bournemouth. The Pelican was much admired. Mrs. Colthurst donated the Crucifix. Mrs. Colthurst also donated the Annunciation window in the Lady Chapel in memory of her husband, Col. Colthurst.
Oak gates leading into Albert Road were also put up and by Mr. Frank White.
All these alterations had been carried out without adding a penny to the church debt inherited from the past; in fact since the previous July the debt had been reduced by £600.
1897. Sanctuary, transepts, and altars under construction. Proposal for lantern tower abandoned. The additions comprised two transepts, side chapels, sanctuary and parish rooms and club room in the basement.
1900. March 10th. Chancel and transepts dedicated.
December 31st. Entire church for a congregation of 600 opened.
1903. Fr Cooney leaves. Parish split into 3 districts. A under Fr Redman, B under Fr. Chew, C under Fr. Luck.
Due to the visit of the Home Fleet to Bournemouth on June 28th, the Secretary of the Chief of Staff R.N. wrote to the Superior asking if he could accommodate 600 men for Mass; the reply was of course "yes". But if the number was in excess of 600 it was desirable that further information should be given; no answer came but 830 men and officers turned up; many had to stand.
New vestments provided by Miss Scott Murray, Mrs Morden Bennett and Miss Bishop. March. Society of St Vincent and St Paul started. The school transferred to the Local Education Authority.
Fr. Greeman becomes a Governor of Royal Victoria Hospital.
1904. New vestments, statues and set of figures for crib presented by Mrs Russell, Mrs and Miss Mackintosh and Mrs Jowett. An alb given by J.B.Camm Auxiliary Bishop of Portsmouth, Dr Cotter celebrated pontifical High Mass.
1906. Fr. Hornyhold replaces Fr. Redman. New confessionals added.
Major Alexander Fullerton, husband to Lady Georgina Fullerton, a saintly woman renowned for her charity and to whom the Catholics of Bournemouth are indebted, left at his death a legacy to the Mission of Bournemouth which helped in the paving off the debt of St. Walburga's.
1907. High Altar completed. Miss Scott Murray resigned due to ill health. Annunciation window donated by Lady Heathcote, Mrs Murgh, Mrs Russell-Arden, Mrs Ryan, Miss Allcard, Miss Heathcote, Miss Scott Murray, Mrs Roper and Mrs Colthurst.
Lady Georgina was a convert and a woman of great sanctity of life and deep humility. A story is told of her that she noted on a day of Obligation an old Catholic 'crossing sweeper; who had not gone to Mass for fear of losing tips from passers-by. which meant a lot to his living. She sent him off to Mass and took his broom and kept the crossing clean until his return.
The Altar Society presented a new carpet for feast days to the High Altar. It was of Trafalgar Pile and dark green to match the green pillars which are to be seen on the borders of the slabs of the marble reredos.
Reflectors were added to the Sanctuary and the extra light brought out the details of the Altar. A certain school of thought among the congregation held that if the light were diminished the Monstrance might stand out more clearly.
It was noted at this time that whilst many of the C.T.S. publications were taken out and read the returns did not correspond with the sales, to the loss of church funds.
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