History of St Joseph's Church
History of the ChurchAdapted from the work of the Late Barry HaleThe name Sutton in Ashfield first appears in the records of the 12th century. It was mentioned in the Doomsday book as Suttone, "ton" indicating that it was a Saxon settlement.
Sutton changed from an agricultural settlement to a manufacturing town in the 18th century but developed slowly despite the advent of the industrial revolution and mining in the area.
The Catholic Church too developed slowly.
The first references to Catholics in the town occur in the church registers in Mansfield in 1890. By the 1920's Mass was occasionally being said in the homes of various Catholics in the town such as Mrs. Cantrell in Lime Street, Mr. and Mrs. Madden in Wood Street, and Mr. and Mrs. Piggott in Morley Street. Priests from Mansfield said masses on weekdays. Eventually the numbers attending started to exceed 30, too big for a private home.
Eventually a room above a garage was rented. It was located in Queen's Place behind Outram Street, and the rent was 30d a week. It was soon converted in a small chapel and on January 12th 1931 Fr. John Keogh, Parish Priest of Mansfield, blessed it. At the first mass 52 people were present and a similar number attended benediction. Numbers increased and fund raising groups were formed to pay for the removal of a wall thereby giving more space. Mass numbers now had reached over 100 and in 1941 Bishop McNulty confirmed 50 children and adults.
The small chapel was often referred to as "the upper room" and one priest referred to it as "our little basilica". The parish grew in stature thanks to many enthusiastic priests such as Fr. Keogh, Fr. McNicholas, Fr. Maloney, and Fr. Sheridan. Names of workers are familiar to us today, Denshams, Blundells, Straws, Sillitos, Scotherns, etc.
In 1956 St. Joseph's became an independent parish with the appointment of an energetic young priest Fr. P.J. Snee. His first task was to find new premises as numbers had outgrown the "upper room", attendance recorded was 240. Fr. Snee purchased a large house on High Pavement now converted into the Social Club. With the willing help of parishioners a chapel was constructed within the house together with a committee room where plans could be made to build a permanent church.
In 1959 work began on the construction of a new church on Forest Street, designed in Romanesque style with a bell tower 71 feet high, and the church was completed in 1961 . It was blessed and opened on October 11th 1961 by Bishop Ellis, and the church was overflowing. The parish had come of age, an era had ended and a new one had begun. It was a remarkable achievement for such a small community, but the building of a parish is a task that never ends.In 1959 work began on the construction of a new church on Forest Street, designed in Romanesque style with a bell tower 71 feet high, and the church was completed in 1961 . It was blessed and opened on October 11th 1961 by Bishop Ellis, and the church was overflowing. The parish had come of age, an era had ended and a new one had begun. It was a remarkable achievement for such a small community, but the building of a parish is a task that never ends.
Fr. Snee, later to become Canon, moved to a larger parish in 1972. His work in developing an active parish was carried forward, each in his own way by succeeding Parish Priests - Fr. Dan Reid, Mgr. George Tutto, and Canon Peter Wilson. On September l4th 2001 we welcomed our new Parish Priest Fr. Stephen Dye.
Fr Stephen left us after just under 2 years to become Parsih Priest of Our Lady and St Augustine's, Stamford. St Joseph's became part of the North Nottinghamshire Parish Community, together with St Philip Neri, Mansfield, and St Teresa's Warsop.
However from 13 September 2008 Fr Frank Higgins took over as Parish Priest while continuing his duties as Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christians, Kirkby in Asfield. The parishes remain separate and independent
Our Priest has the help of Parish Council who are involved with finance, building and sites, social and fund raising, faith and liturgy and ecumenism. The church is kept in pristine condition by willing bands of cleaners and flower arrangers.
The St. Joseph's Social Club on High Pavement is well respected in the town and as well as a church facility it is used by Rotary, Probus, and Soroptomist Clubs. It has a large room, which is an ideal venue for concerts, dances, dinners and wedding receptions.
Sutton changed from an agricultural settlement to a manufacturing town in the 18th century but developed slowly despite the advent of the industrial revolution and mining in the area.
The Catholic Church too developed slowly.
The first references to Catholics in the town occur in the church registers in Mansfield in 1890. By the 1920's Mass was occasionally being said in the homes of various Catholics in the town such as Mrs. Cantrell in Lime Street, Mr. and Mrs. Madden in Wood Street, and Mr. and Mrs. Piggott in Morley Street. Priests from Mansfield said masses on weekdays. Eventually the numbers attending started to exceed 30, too big for a private home.
Eventually a room above a garage was rented. It was located in Queen's Place behind Outram Street, and the rent was 30d a week. It was soon converted in a small chapel and on January 12th 1931 Fr. John Keogh, Parish Priest of Mansfield, blessed it. At the first mass 52 people were present and a similar number attended benediction. Numbers increased and fund raising groups were formed to pay for the removal of a wall thereby giving more space. Mass numbers now had reached over 100 and in 1941 Bishop McNulty confirmed 50 children and adults.
The small chapel was often referred to as "the upper room" and one priest referred to it as "our little basilica". The parish grew in stature thanks to many enthusiastic priests such as Fr. Keogh, Fr. McNicholas, Fr. Maloney, and Fr. Sheridan. Names of workers are familiar to us today, Denshams, Blundells, Straws, Sillitos, Scotherns, etc.
In 1956 St. Joseph's became an independent parish with the appointment of an energetic young priest Fr. P.J. Snee. His first task was to find new premises as numbers had outgrown the "upper room", attendance recorded was 240. Fr. Snee purchased a large house on High Pavement now converted into the Social Club. With the willing help of parishioners a chapel was constructed within the house together with a committee room where plans could be made to build a permanent church.
In 1959 work began on the construction of a new church on Forest Street, designed in Romanesque style with a bell tower 71 feet high, and the church was completed in 1961 . It was blessed and opened on October 11th 1961 by Bishop Ellis, and the church was overflowing. The parish had come of age, an era had ended and a new one had begun. It was a remarkable achievement for such a small community, but the building of a parish is a task that never ends.In 1959 work began on the construction of a new church on Forest Street, designed in Romanesque style with a bell tower 71 feet high, and the church was completed in 1961 . It was blessed and opened on October 11th 1961 by Bishop Ellis, and the church was overflowing. The parish had come of age, an era had ended and a new one had begun. It was a remarkable achievement for such a small community, but the building of a parish is a task that never ends.
Fr. Snee, later to become Canon, moved to a larger parish in 1972. His work in developing an active parish was carried forward, each in his own way by succeeding Parish Priests - Fr. Dan Reid, Mgr. George Tutto, and Canon Peter Wilson. On September l4th 2001 we welcomed our new Parish Priest Fr. Stephen Dye.
Fr Stephen left us after just under 2 years to become Parsih Priest of Our Lady and St Augustine's, Stamford. St Joseph's became part of the North Nottinghamshire Parish Community, together with St Philip Neri, Mansfield, and St Teresa's Warsop.
However from 13 September 2008 Fr Frank Higgins took over as Parish Priest while continuing his duties as Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christians, Kirkby in Asfield. The parishes remain separate and independent
Our Priest has the help of Parish Council who are involved with finance, building and sites, social and fund raising, faith and liturgy and ecumenism. The church is kept in pristine condition by willing bands of cleaners and flower arrangers.
The St. Joseph's Social Club on High Pavement is well respected in the town and as well as a church facility it is used by Rotary, Probus, and Soroptomist Clubs. It has a large room, which is an ideal venue for concerts, dances, dinners and wedding receptions.
