Our Lady and St. Wulstan

Introduction

In 1876, ten Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus, exiled from Germany, settled at Southam and established an orphanage, school, and temporary church.

History

In 1876, ten Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus, religious exiles from Germany, settled in Southam at The Hall, renamed 'Bethlehem', and set up their chapel on the ground floor. In 1878, a corrugated iron church seating 150 was moved to Southam from Cardiff, a gift of Father Grosvenor of Princethorpe.

In 1884, the small iron chapel, brought from Cardiff in 1878, was decided to serve as a mission. In 1886, a resident priest was appointed and the presbytery was built. In 1898, a second, larger iron church was brought from Birmingham. The church was built with a £5,000 bequest from Charles Shaw, brother of James Shaw of Bourton Hall, and opened in 1925 after construction was delayed by the Great War.

In 1972, the church was legally taken over by the Archdiocese, with conditions including a right of way from the Convent to the Church and a daily Mass for the sisters. In 1952, a new alabaster High Altar was installed. In 2006, a Mass of Thanksgiving commemorated the 50th anniversary of the solemn dedication of the Church.

The church is a small Italo-Byzantine building with a round-arched ceiling and an unassuming exterior. Building work commenced in September 1924 and the church, seating 400, was completed on 1 July 1925. The iron church was moved to the Sisters' adjacent school, in readiness for its new use as the School Hall once the church was completed.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has lost much of the painted decoration that once enriched the east end. The church has a Millennium Window (2008). The church has an Infant of Prague statue left by the Sisters. The induction ceremony on 2 May 2010 comprised Vespers and Benediction, led by the Dean of Warwick.

Parish life

The parish serves Southam and many neighbouring villages from Bishop's Itchington and Priors Hardwick to Napton and Harbury. Tiny Seeds and Growing Seeds are the Children's Liturgy groups on Sundays.

The parish supports a Food Bank, collecting specified food and non-food items. The parish is involved in Caritas activities including food and assistance to the homeless and needy, hospital visiting, a luncheon club for the elderly, and support for survivors of child abuse.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available after Masses, on request, and through Penitential Services in Advent, Lent and Summer. A piety stall is available at the church. Weekend Masses are recorded and available on the parish's YouTube channel.

Regular events

On the feast of 25 September, a procession of the Blessed Sacrament walked through the streets of Southam for the first time since the Reformation. The parish priest organises St Wulstan's day celebrations.