St Mary Church

Introduction

Augustus Welby Pugin designed St Mary Church in Brewood, together with its presbytery and school, in the Early English style at a cost of £1,345.

History

St Mary Church was officially opened in June 1844 with Father Robert Richmond as Parish Priest. The Giffard family gave the land for the church and churchyard and paid for the upkeep of the early parish priests. The Giffards provided chapels at Blackladies and Longbirch, the latter serving for a time as the residence of several Bishops (Vicars Apostolic) of the Midland District.

Architecture and furnishings

The east window, made by Hardman of Birmingham, was a gift from Pugin. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is very ancient and was originally in the chapel of Blackladies Benedictine Convent until Parliamentary soldiers ransacked and set fire to the convent. During that attack, the statue is said to have been pierced by a sword above the right knee, and at the back it has a hole supposedly caused by a musket ball.

Parish life

The parish serves the rural area of Staffordshire between Wolverhampton and Stafford, including the villages of Brewood, Penkridge, Wheaton Aston, Bishops Wood and Coven. St Mary's Parish Hall was fully refurbished in 2010, with upgraded kitchen and toilet facilities, and reconfigured to hold groups of up to 35-40 people.

The parish runs Journey in Faith classes, advertised in newsletters, for those preparing to become Catholic. Couples are asked to contact the parish at least a year ahead of the proposed wedding day to reserve the date and allow time for preparation.