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Details concerning the founding
of the mission at Downham Market are scarce. The Parish Priest of Swaffham,
Father Vendé records in the Swaffham Parish Mission Book that Mass was celebrated
at Fincham in 1914, he writes:
"In December of that
same year (1914) Miss Noel expressed the desire of opening an Oratory in her house,
called "The Moats". With the permission of Admiral and Lady Noel, a small place,
formerly the painting studio of Miss Noel, was chosen as a temporary chapel.
"I consented every Sunday
with the Bishop's approval to say Mass in Fincham, and I did so until the time of
the opening of the Downham Market Mission. The number of Catholics in Fincham was
two at the time, but a good few refugees were stationed in Downham and the neighbourhood."
An entry in the Swaffham
Parish Mission Book for 1915 reads: "The principal event recorded for this year
was the opening of the Church at Downham Market. By permission of the Bishop, and
the generosity of Miss Noel, the principal benefactress, together with Mrs Wayman,
a local resident, and recent convert, a stable was provided to be used as a Chapel.
On 19th March (1915) I said the FIRST MASS SINCE THE REFORMATION IN DOWNHAM MARKET,
in the presence of a few stray Catholics and in the evening I gave Benediction,
at which many non-Catholics assisted. Mrs Winter, and the nuns of Swaffham were
present,
with the pupils, to form a choir."
Later it is recorded:
"Ever since then I have said Mass there almost every Sunday, except since the beginning
of the fourth year of the War, when Mass was said only once a month, on account
of the heavy motor expenses. In September, I had the consolation of receiving into
the Church the first convert, Mrs Heal, as a sequence to the Mission, and she made
her First Communion the following Sunday."
"1916 - On 15th April,
at Downham Market after a long time of instruction, I received into the Church a
workman, called Adolphus Staff. Downham was served for a month by the Reverend Father
Blackett, S.J."
Click picture to enlarge |
"1917 - I said Mass alternately
every Sunday at Downham Market and Narborough Camp. On January 1st, I baptised the
four children of Mrs. Gayton."
It is believed that Father
Meaden rented a house in Priory Road, Downham Market, possibly in the 1920s and
established a chapel there. A photograph in the parish archives dating from this
period shows a small chapel furnished with an altar, tabernacle and statues of Our
Lady and the Sacred Heart. On the reverse of this photograph is inscribed "St. Joseph's,
Downham, Norfolk."
Diary extract from parish archive |
In 1937 Miss Elsie Wall
came to "The Towers" at Downham Market. There she established a residential home
for children. Miss Wall was a tertiary member of the Dominican Order and chapel
was opened in the billiard room of "Tower House", known to all in Downham Market
as "The Towers". At first Mass was celebrated by a Spanish priest known to Miss
Wall, he had previously escaped the miseries of the Spanish Civil War.
To be continued.
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