St. Anthony's Church, Ottery St. Mary

Introduction

Saint Anthony's Church in Ottery Saint Mary, within the Diocese of Plymouth, was established through a chapel built next to Raleigh House and dedicated to Saint Anthony, blessed by Bishop John Barrett, who celebrated the first Mass there on 16th June 1935.

History

In 1929, Miss Cottrell bought Raleigh House in Mill Street and had the old coach house converted into a chapel, in which permission was granted to reserve the Blessed Sacrament. The Augustinian Recollects assumed responsibility for Honiton Parish in 1933, and Father Mariano Ortiz, whose duties included Ottery, became friendly with Miss Cottrell. In 1940, Father Ortiz conducted the first baptism in the parish and opened a school for young boys at No. 64, Mill Street, named Saint Augustine's. In 1945, Miss Cottrell donated Raleigh House, garden and church to the Order of Augustinian Recollects when she moved her home for children with special needs to Colyton. In 1946, Father Patrick Dunne, O.A.R., was appointed Parish Priest of Saint Anthony's, taking up residence in Raleigh House.

Architecture and furnishings

Raleigh House was built in 1806 in what had been the garden of a much grander house, built by Sir Walter Raleigh around 1590, using stone from Saint Mary's College. The original house was consumed by fire on 15th May 1805, and by the following year a new house had been built on the site. The new house, now known as Raleigh House, was first occupied by the surgeon Thomas Davy and his wife Elizabeth, and their son Edward Davy was born here in 1806. During the Great War of 1914-1918, Father Van Heede celebrated Mass for Belgian refugees in the area.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Permission for Mass in Saint Anthony's was granted in June 1926, and the first Mass was celebrated in February 1927 by Dom Petreck Dengle. The parish holds a Called to Love event. The parish organizes an HCPT Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The parish holds Holy Week Services.

The parish observes the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. The parish holds a Youth Fun Day at St Rita's. The parish holds refreshments after Sunday Mass.