Church of the Holy Spirit, Dronfield

Introduction

With a resident priest and 20 families, the Parish of the Holy Spirit, Dronfield, became an independent parish in 1961, after belonging to Our Lady and Saint Thomas, Woodseats, Sheffield, in the Diocese of Nottingham.

History

A small Catholic community existed in Dronfield in penal times, and parishioners walked to Chesterfield or Woodseats for Mass. After 1934, Mass was celebrated in the Upper Room of the White Swan public house on Chesterfield Road. In 1949 George Lunt, funeral director of Abbey Lane, bought a former Methodist chapel for the parish. By 1960 the Catholic population had outgrown the little chapel.

In 1990, while the parish priest was serving, a covenant was signed with sixteen churches in Dronfield and District (CTTD). Reorganisation in the Hallam Diocese brought the former parishes of Holy Spirit, Dronfield, Holy Family, and Annunciation, Chesterfield, into the Parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace. Supply priests came from the former Annunciation parish, Chesterfield, and from the Jesuits at Spinkhill. Stations of the Cross were added.

Parishioners made liturgical windows and hangings for the church. Participation has included CTTD events such as the Flower Festivals. Outreach activities have covered Cafod, Life and Saint Wilfrid’s Centre in Sheffield. Weddings take place at the Church of the Holy Spirit, the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of the Holy Family.

Architecture and furnishings

The dual-purpose building had a parish priest, and events there raised funds for the church and presbytery. Work was done on the presbytery, and the church was redecorated. The choir has remained part of the liturgy throughout.