🕮 Coalville Parish History

In 2021, we reached the Diamond Jubilee of our church and we celebrated this on Sunday 22nd May. Below are photographs and a timeline taken from our parish Silver Jubilee booklet made for the celebrations in 1986. 

Parish Milestones 1887 to 1986

1887
The Coalville Mission was started by Father M. J. O’Reilly. Prior to this, Coalville Catholics had to walk to Whitwick to hear Holy Mass. Mass in Coalville was first said in a private house on Ashby Road, Coalville, opposite the Post Office. The average congregation varied from 16 to 20 people.

1888 

The private house was unable to accommodate the now increasing congregation so a local dance hall was hired at a weekly rent of 7/6d. This proved to be too expensive for the people to support and a Mr Tyler, a non-Catholic, offered the free use of his theatre.

1900

Edwin de Lisle erected a temporary church, St Saviour’s, for the use of the Catholics of Coalville.

1913

Father Joseph Degan was given permission by the Bishop to appeal for help in building a new church in Coalville, as the existing one no longer met the needs of the parish.

1939

Plans were drawn up for the construction of a new church in Coalville and a site was purchased. Although permission had been granted, the plans had to be postponed due to the outbreak of war.

1955

Reverend Father Key purchased a more central site on London Road, to become the site of the present church.

1956

To relieve pressure on St Saviour’s Church and to provide Mass for Catholics in outlying villages, a new Mass centre was built in Ellistown in honour of St Thomas More. Previously, Mass had been said in the Ellistown Hotel and in the old hostel originally begun by Fr J. Cummins.

1959

The architect for the new church, Mr D. Williams of Manchester, was appointed. Construction by Orton and Co. of Coalville was begun on 5th of July. The bishop of Nottingham was unable to lay the foundation stone due to illness, however the Rt. Rev. E. Grasar (later to become the Bishop of Shrewsbury) deputised. St. Wilfrid of York was chosen as the patron of the new church.

1961

Dr Edward Ellis, Bishop of Nottingham, opened the new church on 28th June. Closed circuit television relayed the ceremony to an overflowing congregation in the church hall.

1967

The consecration of the new church of St Wilfrid of York took place on 21st September.

1975

The building of St Clare’s Primary School was completed and officially opened in May. By the Rt. Rev. James McGuinness, Bishop of Nottingham.

1986

The Silver Jubilee of the church was celebrated on 27th June.