On Saturday 9 May the parish of Our Lady & St Wulstan celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus in Southam.  

In 1876, 10 Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus, exiled from Germany, were settled at Southam and established an orphanage and school as well as a temporary church. In 1898 a second, larger iron church was brought here, this time from Birmingham. Large new convent buildings were also added about the same time, from designs by a German architect. In 1913, Charles Shaw, the brother of James Shaw of Bourton Hall, left a bequest of £5,000 for a new church. This paid the entire cost of the present building. Construction was delayed by the Great War, and the church did not open until 1925. 

A pleasant small Italo-Byzantine church, the exterior is unassuming yet the interior with its round arched ceiling is well-proportioned. The sanctuary and Lady Chapel were gradually adorned with Italianate wall paintings by Sister Mary Sales. The church was consecrated by Archbishop Grimshaw on 14 May 1956. In 1972, it was handed over to the diocese, which also acquired the presbytery. Today there is just one sister remaining in Southam, Sister Sharon Peters.

At the start of the Mass, Sister Sharon welcomed sisters of her order to the church sisters who had travelled from Germany and Austria, as well as Archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard Longley, and a number of priests from the wider community, including parish priest, Fr Des Devenney. Sister Sharon also gave a short historical overview of the Sisters life in the parish. 

Link to Welcome from Sister Sharon

During his homily Archbishop Bernard Longley praised the Sisters for education, care for poor and needy children, prayerful community life, and service to the parish and wider town. Following the Homily the Sisters renewed their vows with Archbishop Bernard.

At the end of Mass Fr Des spoke to the congregation thanking everybody who was present inviting them to the reception at St Mary’s Catholic School.

Speaking with Fr Des he said “many, many  thanks to all involved for this wonderful occasion. Many thanks to all who were involved in the day and its preparations. Thank you.”

Our Lady & St Wulstan parish website

Old parish photographs

Recent parish photographs

Link to celebration Mass photos by Brian Irvine