In October, the parish of St Mary and St Thomas More in Cannock held a joyful and historic Jubilee celebration, marking the 100th anniversary of the church’s opening and the 150th anniversary of the parish’s founding.

This remarkable milestone was honoured with a series of events showcasing the rich legacy of Catholic life in Cannock, as well as a renewed commitment to the parish’s future.

Throughout the week, the church hosted a special exhibition chronicling over a century of parish history. Visitors had the opportunity to view memorabilia, photographs and artefacts provided by both the parish and diocesan archives. This display featured items from various parish activities, a timeline of past parish priests and a unique collection of local contributions that captured the essence of parish life.

On Thursday 24 October His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley, visited Cannock to join the parishioners and community members in the celebration. His itinerary included stops at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Great Wyrley and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Cannock, where he viewed school displays and led brief worship gatherings with students and staff. Following his visits to the schools, Archbishop Longley visited parishioners unable to attend due to health reasons, bringing them encouragement and blessings.

The Archbishop also toured the parish exhibition and presided over the blessing of a new Jubilee Garden. Created as a tribute to the past and future of Catholic life in Cannock, this garden includes a time capsule with items reflecting the theme “Celebrating the Catholic Life of Cannock – Past, Present, and Future”. The burial of the capsule was followed by a special celebratory Mass, enriched by the contributions of parish musicians, local schoolchildren, and representatives from parish ministries, including Prison Chaplains, SVP, and members of the Diaconate.

Father Peter Weatherby, parish priest, expressed deep gratitude to all who contributed to this event: “This Jubilee is the culmination of a year of hard work and heartfelt dedication. I thank everyone who took part in marking these two historic landmarks. The garden, a gift from many hands, will be a beautiful reminder of the past century and a welcome for future generations.”

Following Mass, attendees gathered for a buffet reception in the parish centre, where brief presentations and expressions of thanks were shared. The Jubilee celebration was a beautiful reminder of the parish’s strong foundation and its bright future in the Cannock community.

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