Parish History
Pope Benedict XVI at St Mary’s College in 2010
1386
Anniversary dinner for the Treaty of Windsor in the presence of the President of Portugal
1865
Princes Marie-Amelie of Bourbon-Orleans , mother of King Manuel of Portugal, born at York House
1883
Catholic Mission established in Grosvenor Road
1885
Opening of St James Church by Cardinal Henry Edward Manning
1886
Father Edmund English, Rector
1887
Church consecrated by Cardinal Manning
1888
Death of James de Lacy Towle who paid for St James’s
1893
St James Primary School opens in Grosvenor Road
1909
Fr English appointed Canon of Westminster Cathedral
1914-18
First World War: Belgian exiles living in Richmond and Twickenham
1914
St Catherine’s School established. King Manuel II and Queen Augusta Victoria of Portugal move into the parish
1924
Death of Canon English. Fr James O’Brien appointed as parish priest
1925
Window in memory of Canon English donated by King Manuel
1927
St Mary’s Training College moves to Strawberry Hill on to the site of Horace’s Walpole’s house. Parish Hall in Radnor Road opened by King Manuel
1930
St Margaret’s Parish, East Twickenham, established
1932
Window dedicated to St Anthony of Lisbon/Padua donated by King Manuel. Death of the King due to a throat infection. His body taken back to Portugal.
1934
Whitton parish established.
1936
Fr William Gordon appointed Parish Priest.
1939
Death of Fr O’Brien
1940
Dunkirk evacuation: small boats from Twickenham and Teddington take part. Unexploded bomb lands in back garden of the house opposite the church.
1944
Popes Grotto pub destroyed by V1 rocket. St Catherine’s School damaged
1970
Fr Gordon appointed Canon of Westminster Cathedral
1975
Death of Canon Gordon. Fr Kenneth Dain appointed parish priest.
1982
Fr Dain leaves St. James’s. Fr Anthony Potter appointed as successor.
1983
Porch linking church and presbytery built
1985
Visit by Cardinal Hume to celebrate centenary
1991
Mgr George Tancred parish priest
2001
Mgr Tancred retires: Fr Terence McGuckin appointed as successor
2002
Fr McGuckin leaves. Fr Ulick Loring succeeds him.
2002
Mgr Tancred dies in Ireland in December
2003
Death of Fr Potter
2004
Fr Loring and Deacon Peter Coates set up link with Bender in Moldova to support a children’s centre. Bp Anton Cosa of Moldova visits St. James’s. Hess Moontasir sets up first parish website
2005
Parish visit to Moldova with donation of 11,500 Euros
2008
Tom Devitt writes first history of the parish
2009
Visit by Bishop Anton Cosa. Unveiling of memorial to King Manuel of Portugal in the presence of HRH Dom Miguel of Braganza, the Mayor of Richmond, Cllr Celia Hodges, and the Portuguese of Ambassador, HE Antonio Santana Carlos
2010
Archbishop Vincent Nichols visits church for 125th anniversary. Pope Benedict XVI visits St Mary’s University
2011
Opening of new porch and St Joseph’s chapel
2012
Opening of St Richard Reynolds Catholic Community College by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop George Stack of Cardiff, and Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark.
2013
Opening of the Emmanuel Centre by Cardinal Nichols in the presence of Dom Miguel of Braganza.
2015
Andy Cole, Chair of Governors of St Richard Reynolds invested as Knight of St Gregory. Parish team takes part in Great River Race. Visit by HE Joao de Vallera, Ambassador Portugal.
2017
Bishop John Wilson celebrates redecoration of the church
2018
Unveiling of two stain glassed windows designed by Caroline Benyon to commemorate Portuguese association in the Great War. The Portuguese Ambassador, HE Manuel Lobo Antunes, and Field Marshal the Lord Guthrie performed the ceremony. Blessing by Bishop Wilson. Jane Leigh, Chair of Finance awarded Bene Merente
2019
Unveiling of windows memorial plaque by Ambassador Manuel Lobo Antunes
2020
Death of Deacon Peter Coates
2021
Church temporarily closed because of Covid.
2022
Parish participates in preparation for 2024 Synod.
Parish appointed Infacando da Confrario de Vinho do Porto.
Requiem mass for HM Queen Elizabeth.
Parish appointed Infacando da Confrario de Vinho do Porto.
Requiem mass for HM Queen Elizabeth.
2023
Requiem mass for Pope Benedict.
Coronation mass for King Charles.
Coronation mass for King Charles.
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