A joyful week ahead as the parish community and friends prepare to mark the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone.

The Archbishop of Birmingham, Mayor of Solihull and MP for Solihull West and Shirley are to join celebrations at Olton Friary Parish later this month.

Parish Priest, Fr Anthony Biju, and the Sacred Heart Community are hosting a double celebration this April: a 100-year milestone since the laying of the church's foundation stone, which coincides with the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi’s death - significant to Olton Friary which was once home to the Capuchin Franciscans for 90 years.

Fr Biju is inviting both parishioners and the wider community to come and visit Olton Friary for one of celebratory services or open afternoon and learn more about the Friary’s history.

"A building like Olton Friary is truly unique - from its ties to the first Bishop of Birmingham and life as a seminary, its amazing connection to St John Henry Newman, the 90 years of dedicated service from the Capuchin Franciscans to the 40 years of the Sacred Heart Fathers and we are very proud to continue its legacy," said Fr Biju.

When approached to join the parish, Fr John Cavanagh, OFM, Capuchin Franciscan was delighted to accept the invite: "Olton Friary has always held a special place in the hearts of the Capuchin Franciscans. It was our house of study from 1889 to 1981 and I myself started my training at Olton in the 1960s.

"I remember a vibrant community, we all worked alongside each other and developed a very strong, spiritual and communal focus both within our own order and within the wider Olton parish community. Only a few Capuchins who attended Olton are still with us. Fr Paschal, whom many people of both the parish and across England may remember, he was very ahead of his time in spreading the good news through the media, many will remember him for his regular appearance in the 60s on TV’s Epilogue, providing the end-of-day prayers. 

"We all have such happy memories of Olton and I’m very much looking forward to returning to Olton."

Fr Biju warmly invites all to join parish events:

On Tuesday 21 April a Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at 6.30pm with the Capuchin Franciscans to formally mark 100 years since the laying of the foundation stone. 

On Sunday 26 April Archbishop Bernard Longley will re-bless the foundation stone at the 9am and 11am services, joined by the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Annette Mackenzie, and local MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst. At 6pm, the Rev Canon Jonathan Veasey will join the service.

Historical readings and jubilee songs will precede all services and a display of photographs and information about the history of the church and friary, alongside a booklet detailing events up until 1926, will be available.

Refreshments will be available after church services and any donations will go towards the Friary Hall refurbishment fund – a central community centre within Olton.

Other highlights include a Quiz Night, Afternoon Tea and historical tour.

Centenary Celebrations at Olton Friary

Olton Friary website