History of the Parish

Mass was celebrated for the first time since the reformation in a house in Bell Street on All Saints Day 1864 by Fr Andre Walshe, chaplain to Charles Scott Murray of Danesfield.   Mass continued to be celebrated for three more years, by the chaplains of Stonor., but through infirmity this ceased in 1867. In 1888 Bishop Ilsley appointed a resident diocesan priest Fr John Bacchus. A little church that doubled as a school was built in Station Road in 1889.

In 1909 the number of parishioners was 30, when Father John Hughes became parish priest. He remained for 55 years until 1964, retiring at the age of 94.    In 1935 he purchased a one-acre plot on Vicarage Road. The generosity of Charles Scott Murray gave a magnificent East Window, reredos and altar, designed by E W Pugin, to the church. Murray's church at Danesfield had been demolished and now A. S. Butler designed the present Sacred Heart Church around these beautiful pieces. 

The church was completed in July 1936. A solemn Te Deum was sung in 1943 marking the clearing of the debt (Fr. Hughes wore no socks for the period!). The culmination of Fr. Hughes’ works was the consecration of the church in 1949 by Archbishop Masterson.

1958 saw a new school building in Greys Hill; this was extended in 1965 and again in 1994.  It serves as one of the foundation stones of the life of the parish.

Father (later Canon) Denis Toplass succeeded as parish priest in 1964, and remained here for 27 years till his death in 1991. During his time, a new parish hall was built using the proceeds of the sale of the old church/school in Station Road. His years saw the beginnings of the implementation of the decrees of the Second Vatican Council. The involvement of the laity was a high priority.  Sacred Heart boasts a parish council that has given some 35 years’ continuous service to the parish.

Father Anthony Wilcox was appointed parish priest in 1992. His predecessor had left financial resources to allow for the re-roofing of the church and the re-furbishment of its east window.    The re-ordering of the parish hall, a large car park and the extension of the house has followed.  All that remains is the re-ordering and extension of the church to accord with the liturgy of today. Lengthy consultations and planning applications have been successful, and it is wonderful to note that these works will start late in 2004 to be completed by the middle of 2005.