A Brief History of Our Church

Just over 200 years ago in the early 1800’s, Catholics were viewed with a mixture of derision and distrust. Catholics were looked on as people who worshipped images and were served for the most part by foreign priests. The idea of the Catholic religion being somehow un-English and therefore threatening to Englishmen who valued their freedom.

During that time, there was but a single priest left in each of the counties in this area (Bedford, Buckingham, Cambridge, Northampton and only an exile Frenchman in Huntingdon). We take our faith for granted and it is rarely realised how close our faith came to being lost entirely in this area.

A few Catholic families had the faith and perseverance to establish a Church in Luton where the largely evangelical and anti-Catholic community regarded their beliefs with a mixture of fear and resentment.

In 1884, Father Joseph Aloysius O’Connor was sent to found a Catholic Mission in Luton and was met with suspicion and hostility.

Father O’Connor built a Church of corrugated iron roughly where the Parish Hall is located which cost £1,665 (an enormous sum for those years). Two years later the church was opened on Christmas Day 1886.

26 years later on 16th May 1910 the foundation stone of our Church was laid with 2 additional engraved stones placed above it. On the foundation stone it read ‘This foundation stone was laid by Frederick William, Bishop of Northampton on 16th May 1910. Pius, Pope; George V, King: Albert Wilkinson, Mayor of Luton and Father O’Connor Rector’. Above the foundation stone was cemented another stone on which is engraved the date in Roman numerals and above it the sign of the cross.

Bishop Frederick, Bishop of Northampton blessed the foundations of the church and made a detour of the walls which were sprinkled with holy water. The Litanies of the Saints were sung followed by ‘Veni Creator’ and the service concluded with a forty days indulgence granted to the faithful according the teachings of the church. Afterwards the Bishop delivered his Benediction and gave his donation. The music portion of the service included the hymns “Faith of our Fathers, God Bless our Pope and a hymn to the Virgin Mary. During the greater part of the service the weather changed drastically and rain fell in torrents, the lightening flashed and the thunder rolled.

The cost of the church was £2,500 most of which had to be raised. The building was designed with a Gothic style and to hold 300 worshippers. Gothic architecture is the style of the late medieval period, characterised by use of the pointed arch, large windows; rose windows, and ornate façades. The church was to be dedicated to ‘Our Lady Help of Christians’. 49 years later in 1959 this Church was expanded.

11th February 1965 (55 years after the foundation stones were laid), a fire swept through Our Lady’s Church and damages running into thousands of pounds was done. But the structure was fortunately saved. Repairs and renovations were carried out at a cost of more that £7,000 and a new organ costing £4,000 was installed to add greatly to the scope of the church music. New offices and a bedroom in the presbytery were completed and blessed by the Bishop on 20th March 1966.

Sisters of St Clare started serving our Community on 27th August 1976. There were four Sisters in the Community. Three sisters were teachers and one sister was detailed for parish work. Sister Bartholomew endeared herself to the young and old alike. She radiated joy wherever she went with her beaming smile. Unfortunately she was killed in a freak car accident near Hibbert Street corner on her way to 9am Mass on Wednesday 7th July 1982. Her death came as a particular blow to the community.

2nd November 1973 – Old Iron Church burnt down – having lasted almost 90 years. The blaze totally gutted the old building and left a huge pall of black smoke lying over the town centre. The fire brigade was called immediately but it was too late. The fire was thought to have been started by smoldering rubbish on neighbouring wasteland.

1982 – New Parish Hall built and was blessed by Bishop Thomas on 28th November 1982.

2000 – External roof replaced costing thousands of pounds.

2004 – Major internal refurbishment.