The Most Holy Sacrament and St Osburg

Introduction

St Osburg's has been the Mother church of Coventry since 1807. The church was built in 1843-45 by Charles Hansom in continental Gothic style of C13 and C14. The present St Osburg's was consecrated by Bishop Wiseman on September 9th 1845, along with eight other bishops.

History

In 1806 Father John Dawber, a Benedictine monk, bought land in Hill Street for £155 and in 1807 the new church of Saint Mary and Saint Laurence was opened. In 1841 Father William Ullathorne, who later became the first Archbishop of Birmingham, came to Coventry and took charge of the parish based on Hill Street. Ullathorne, supported by Wiseman, decided to build a new church and commissioned Charles Hansom, a parishioner and surveyor of the city of Coventry, to build his first church. The church was dedicated to The Blessed Sacrament and St Osburg.

Father Ullathorne was raised to the episcopate of the Western District on June 21st 1846. In the late 1800s the rood screen was removed. On the night of November 14th 1940 the whole of the chancel and the roof of the nave was destroyed as well as the presbytery and much of the rest of Coventry. The church could not be used until the end of the war, though rubble was cleared away and 1500 people turned up for Easter Mass, with the roof still missing, as early as 1942.

After the War the chancel was rebuilt with a new high altar. A new front altar was installed in the 1970s with changes to the flooring and décor. Margaret Hallahan, who worked in this parish, began the English Dominican sisters at St Osburg's.

Architecture and furnishings

The walls of the church are of Marston granite in rubble work, strengthened by buttresses, and the stonework of the interior is in a light stone from a quarry in Exhall. The church has a solid tower 17 feet square with a spire, and the length of the church is 115 feet. The church has a restored east window of Our Lady, the angels and saints, as well as mosaics in the side-chapels of Our Lady and St Benedict. The church consists of a nave with clerestory, a north and south aisle, a chancel and two chapels, one Our Lady's chapel and the other St Benedict's.

The church has sculpted angels carrying shields with symbols of the Blessed Sacrament and the men and women saints including Saint Osburg in the lancet windows of the aisles. Talks on the Scriptures and the Fathers were delivered to the factory girls and all who would listen.

Parish life

The parish has a Charismatic renewal prayer group. The parish has a parish school, St Osburg's.

The parish has a Christmas raffle. The parish has a parish website and live-streaming. The parish has a church cleaners team.

Regular events

The parish celebrates its feast day and day of dedication on 9th September with special prayers and a common lunch. The parish runs Saturday Lunches and CAFOD soup, which close for summer holidays until mid September. The parish runs a Tuesday tea for senior citizens throughout the summer holidays.

Visiting

The parish hall and kitchen have been improved and are available for hire for parties and ceremonies. The Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is starting in the parish.