St. Columba, Chesham

Introduction

On 1 June 1960 the present church, Saint Columba in Chesham, opened. On 30 August 1959 the foundation stone was blessed and laid, and it remains in the left wall of the Sanctuary.

History

From 1947 the British Legion Hall served as a Mass centre for the 300 Catholics of Chesham. In 1957 the Catholic Association had raised £1000 toward starting costs of £10,000. In 1961 the bank overdraft was £14,823, annual interest was £825, and church and presbytery running costs were £1000 a year. A Direct Giving or Planned Giving scheme was established to cover the church’s debts and running expenses.

The curate at Chesham Bois while Saint Columba’s was built became parish priest soon after the church opened and retired through ill-health in 1967. In 2010 the parish marked its Golden Jubilee with a Mass celebrated by a bishop, an Open Day, an ecumenical service and a concert. Saint Columba’s marked its Diamond Jubilee in 2020 virtually during the Coronavirus pandemic. The first deacon of the parish was ordained in 2021. The parish includes a Parish Pastoral Council.

Architecture and furnishings

The interior of Saint Columba’s was painted for the first time since the church was built. The hall at Saint Columba’s was formed from the original choir loft. When a former Army chaplain arrived, Saint Columba’s had two statues, a small crucifix, and a tabernacle from another parish. Fundraising purchased a tabernacle, new vestments, a large crucifix, stations of the cross and a chalice.

The principal altar was placed in the nave so that it mirrored the high altar. A new principal altar and ambo were fitted, along with new carpet in the sanctuary. The Union of Catholic Mothers raised funds to carpet the Lady Chapel and re-cover the kneelers. Twelve consecration candles and crosses show where the walls were anointed.

The crucifix was hung from the arch, and a picture carving of Saint Columba was set over the high altar. In 2015 a new organ took the place of the organ that had been there since the church opened. Our Lady’s Grotto was built at Saint Columba’s.