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by Frank & Emily Loxston INTRODUCTION By special request, I have been asked to state what I can remember of the Catholic Church in Bridgwater. My earliest recollection is, as a very small boy holding my mother's hand, being a spectator at the Catholic military funeral of Sergt. Major Hogan in the tiny Catholic cemetery in Gordon Terrace. In those days, there were no houses near by, and the surrounding land of allotments was known as Catholic Gardens. Close by stood a very small Catholic church with double gates and a nice path with overhanging trees. Some very old parishioners have spoken of a French priest, and also of a Fr Walsh who had served the little mission. At that time, Cranleigh Gardens and Cranleigh Park were nothing but claypits, and at the top near the river was a very large brickyard. Rev. Fr A.J.C. Scoles (1881 - 1891) When Fr Scoles from Taunton was appointed to this church, he did not care for its surroundings, nor did he think it was sufficiently central. Fr Scoles, apart from being a young active priest, was also an architect and a builder. With the bishop's permission, he set about to acquire a more suitable site. Eventually, with his own architectural earnings and the financial aid of his friend, Mr Philip Hewitt, an old gentleman in poor health, who lived with him, Fr Scoles was successful in acquiring the whole right side of Chapel Street, at that time a very quiet little neighbourhood, consisting mostly of stores and little cottages. In time, he designed and built the church, and after the various furnishings were placed in the new church, the old building, (which had not been consecrated), was sold to a local wheelwright. After the opening of the new Church of St Joseph, Fr Scoles set to work on his day school. He converted two stores in his ground into two schoolrooms. One named St Joseph's (scholars paying 3d per week) and the other, St. Francis', (scholars paying 6d per week). The first schoolmistress was Mrs Burman, who remained for some time and was later succeeded by Miss Hunt. I was about seven years of age when I first attended this school. In the playground, we had a swing, a tossing boat and a balance for our amusement. On holy days of obligation, we had no holiday, but after Mass, Fr Scoles usually gave us a short instruction in the school about the feast, and later sent in a basket of tarts and buns for distribution as we went home. The Sisters Fr Scoles was very anxious to get the help of some sisters in Bridgwater. In the meantime he had approached Mr Richard Else, who owned the property known as Binford House and garden where now the public library stands. Fr Scoles had hoped to make this property into a convent for the sisters. However, Mr Else refused to sell his property, so Fr Scoles fitted up a cottage, whose entrance was in King Street, and connected it to the school. Over St Francis' School, he built some private cells for the accommodation of the sisters. Eventually, four sisters arrived from Bristol, bringing with them, a young lady, Miss Agnes Barratt, whom they had brought up from childhood, and Mary, their servant. Mother Angela and Miss Barratt took charge of the school. Where the Co-op shop now stands were two large stores which were fitted into (sic) a laundry. Sister Mary Bernard, Sister Elizabeth and Sister Margaret Mary supervised the laundry, which gave employment to about 20 women. Sister Margaret Mary also became the organist. She rose daily at 6 a.m. to sing the angelus. In those days, the usual work-day commenced at 6 a.m. and the streets of Bridgwater were very busy at that time. At the age of twelve on St. Patrick's Day, with Harry and Edward Barnet, (stepbrothers of Mrs Coakley), I was received into the Catholic Church. I remember Harry Williams and myself were acolytes to Fr Scoles at the funeral of John Mears, son of a good Catholic family, who kept a shoe shop in Eastover. This was probably the last funeral in the old churchyard. The Town Council had acquired land for the Bristol Road Cemetery, and a plot was reserved for future Catholic burials. My grandfather, a convert, was one of the earliest laid to rest there. The Church Fr Scoles' idea was that the church must be really beautiful. Mass was celebrated at the high altar in the sanctuary only on Sundays and holy days of obligation. On weekdays, Mass and evening services were celebrated at St Joseph's altar. In those days the usual congregation was small. The beautiful work above St Joseph's altar was designed by Fr Scoles in memory of his father. The little tribune was erected so that Mr Hewitt could hear Mass. A little rail with curtains made it private for the invalid. 
On Sundays, Holy Communion was given at 8 a.m. and there was sung Mass at 11 a.m. The high altar was always decorated with lovely flowers with two large branches of candles each side. At each recess stood a tall brass candlestick, about six feet high. At the canon of the Mass, two altar boys lit these candles for the elevation. On festival days the whole of the sanctuary was covered with beautiful carpet. Fr Scoles' canopy for processions was indeed lovely. His altar boys were not allowed on the sanctuary without shoes, nor were they allowed to touch anything without gloves. The smaller boys wore red cassocks. On Sunday afternoons, the church bell rang at 3.45 p.m. and the Sunday school children were marched into church for rosary. The evening service consisted of vespers, sermon and benediction, and for this service, flowers were always arranged on the altar table with small branches of lights leading to the tabernacle door. Fr Scoles kept a lay brother to look after the church in his absence, and to assist his housekeeper. In his presbytery he boarded five gentlemen students, whose education he personally supervised. At one time there were three or four architects for tuition. Fr Scoles was very clever at needlework. In his spare time he worked a beautiful cope, which was later exhibited at the Bath & West Show on Durleigh Rd, and it was awarded first and special prize. He also repaired the cassocks of his altar boys. He never wasted a moment. Even at confession time, he would make tapers while waiting for the various penitents. After the Sunday evening service, Fr Scoles wished to keep his altar boys off the streets, so he allowed them to have suitable games in his dining room. On cold evenings, Brother Tom was instructed to provide us lads with a small glass of hot burgundy wine as we left. In those days, Bridgwater Docks and River were packed with shipping and St Joseph's had four custom officers in succession, who all were Catholics. One of them, Mr Marron, erected the rood above the sanctuary rails to the memory of his wife. Fr Scoles' Activities as a Bridgwater Citizen Fr Scoles was elected to the Board of Guardians, on which he served for some years. He was also interested in most of the Friendly Societies of the town. In one instance, one society, (the Druids, I think), had dismissed one of their members for some reason. Fr Scoles considered this action was unjust. Unable to get a satisfactory result in Bridgwater he took the case to Manchester where he was successful in winning his appeal. On his return to Bridgwater, the town band played him from the G.W.R. Station to the Cornhill where he made a speech. About this time there were some bathing fatalities in the river, as boys had no other bathing place. The town council suggested swimming baths for the town but nothing was done. It is probable that Fr Scoles purchased the whole of St Saviour's Estate, and on his own, he commenced the building of the swimming baths. He also built the houses in St Saviour's Avenue. St Saviour's House was a quaint old building standing in its own grounds, where now the Blake Hall stands. About the same time, he also built three villas in Victoria Road and named them "Marie Villas". We were shown the plans drawn up by him to convert St. Saviour's House into a home for poor boys to be cared for by monks. However, the bishop paid a visit to St Joseph's. He told Fr Scoles he considered that Bridgwater was now on a good footing, and he would like Fr Scoles to go to Yeovil and build a church there. At that time, the Yeovil Catholics heard Mass in a room let by some Protestant authority. I remember I went there to Mass on one occasion. Fr Scoles accepted the bishop's suggestion, and at his last address to us in the church he told us that his chief grief at going from Bridgwater, was the leaving of his boys. We lads had never forgotten his kindness to us, and his great love for children. Fr Scoles told the town council he could not afford to give the swimming baths to the town, but he would offer them at a certain price, on condition that the purchaser gave them to the town. The swimming baths were eventually purchased by Councillor Roberts, who presented them to the town. The laundry was closed, and disposed of, (by whom I know not), and the sisters returned to Bristol. The school of 62 pupils was carried by a lay mistress named Miss MacDonald. Mr Hewitt, his invalid friend, passed away July 1886 and was buried in the Bristol Road Cemetery. A stained glass window to his memory stands above the pulpit of St Joseph's Church. Before Fr Scoles left Bridgwater he was presented by the town with a framed testimonial. When Fr Scoles had been in Yeovil a few months, Harry Williams and myself paid him a visit. He was then living in a little cottage at the end of a lane. Mr Bryer of Bridgwater was the builder of the new church, the presbytery, the convent and several houses in Yeovil. At the opening of the new church, Fr Scoles, (now Canon), sent for Harry Williams, Bernard Ryden and myself to wait on the three Bishops of Clifton, Plymouth and Porstmouth. The opening sermon was preached by a monk. I remember his text:- "He hath done what he could". That day, Canon Scoles gave a tea to all the old folks in Yeovil. During the speeches which followed, His Lordship, the Bishop of Portsmouth expressed his sincere wish that the Bishop of Clifton would give Canon Scoles over to him, as he needed a Church of the Holy Ghost in Basingstoke. Canon Scoles rose, and said, "If His Lordship will give me over, I will go." Eventually he left the Diocese of Clifton. He became Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of the Diocese of Portsmouth. He died at the Hospital of St John's Wood on 29th December 1920 in the 77th year of his age, and the 43rd of his priesthood. R.I.P. Rev. Fr T. O'Meara (1891 - 1893) When Fr Scoles left St Joseph's Church Fr O'Meara, a curate under Canon Mitchell at Taunton, was the next priest in charge of the parish of Bridgwater. The Catholic Church in Ireland had lent this priest to the Clifton Diocese for ten years, and Fr O'Meara spent his last three years at St Joseph's, Bridgwater. He was a most saintly man, and loved by all his parishioners. We still had only one Mass each Sunday. After the asperges, Fr O'Meara recited the Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition. The choir then sang the morning prayers before the commencement of Mass, and the whole Sunday morning service was generally completed about 12.45 p.m. At that time, St Joseph's Church possessed one of the best choirs in the diocese. viz. the Coyle family, all trained singers, the O,Brien family, and several others. Fr O'Meara also possessed a beautiful voice. In those days, any Mass could be rendered such as Mozart's 12th Mass. The evening service consisted of vespers, sermon and benediction. During the sung vespers, two young men in cassocks and surplices assisted the trained sanctuary boys. There were no buses in those days, but sometimes one, or even two brakeloads of Taunton Catholics would come up for the evening service. The singing at St Joseph's was so beautiful that often, people were unable to get admission into the church. The chief characteristic of Fr O'Meara's short stay was the astonishing number of non-Catholics who were received into the Church. All his spare time must have been spent with these instructions to the various inquirers. We know that the congregation was augmented by 22 new converts. Mr Yorke erected a stained glass window in the church to the memory of his wife. At that time St Joseph's Church had no pulpit. A subscription list was started, and one Catholic member wrote to the Duke of Norfolk, who forwarded a donation of £3 towards the new pulpit. At its opening the morning sermon was preached by Fr Calway. The evening sermon was preached by Canon Kennard of Cannington. Then Fr O'Meara received a sudden recall to Ireland to the great grief of all the congregation. After the departure of Fr O'Meara, nearly a year elapsed before a resident priest was appointed. During that period eleven different priests did the week-end supply work. Some of them were from Clevedon, Bristol, and Wincanton. We had no week-day service after the Monday morning Mass, except on holy days of obligation. During that year, I spent some time each evening in the church. Assisted by the housekeeper, Miss Harris, we cleaned the church, arranged the altar flowers, and I put everything in readiness for the in-coming priest at the weekend. On one occasion, Canon Russell from Clifton visited the presbytery and the church. He made Inquiries from Miss Harris as to who was responsible for the splendid upkeep, and care of the church. I happened to be in the church just then, and Canon Russell came in, thanked me, and put a golden sovereign in my hand. (I thought I was a king!) |