Foundress of St. Mary’s Church and School.
The Countess of Clare
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St.Mary’s was built in 1846 by Elizabeth, Countess of Clare, at a cost of £18,000. It was designed by Joseph Hansom (of Hansom cab fame) and is regarded as one of the finest early Victorian Catholic churches in England. The beautiful stained glass windows were added between 1860 and 1880. The coats of arms of the early bishops who used St. Mary's as their base while visiting the south coast, can still be seen in the sanctuary. Two former parish priests, Mgr. John Baptist Cahill and Mgr William Cotter, also became Bishops of Portsmouth. The church was consecrated to the glory of God and in honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the conversion of sinners? on 21st May, 1863 by Mgr Thomas Grant, first Bishop of Southwark. The Lady Chapel and shrine of Our Lady, built in 1893, in the south east corner of the church, contains an altar designed by Pugin, with a carving of Our Lady of Walsingham and beautiful murals of various decades of the rosary. The ceiling panels depict scenes from the Litany of Our Lady. |
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The Sared Heart altar (on the opposite side) was constructed in 1898 with marble and alabaster and is surrounded by stained glass windows of saints famous for their love and devotion to Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Above the sacristy door is a large painting (copy) by Reni of the Annunciation, and is a reminder that the Countess of Clare, foundress of the church, was born on the feast of the Annunciation in 1793. There are history booklets available at the back of the church. Guided tours of the church, crypt and private chapel of the Countess of Clare every Wednesday at 11.15am in Summer. School parties / groups are given (free) guided tours by appointment. Tel. 01983 566740. The church crypt is open on Wed, Thurs and Fridays (10.30am – 1.30pm). Entrance along the alley on the south side of the church. Here there is a charity shop, refreshments and a permanent exhibition of the development of the Christian faith on the Island from Roman times. |
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The church crypt was intended as the original burial place of the Countess of Clare, but she decided instead to be buried near the Dominican Priory at Carisbrooke which she had built. The crypt, which was a chapel dedicated to St. Peter in Victorian times, is now a charity shop, tea room and mini museum, with artefacts from the past and a pictorial display of the development of the Christian faith on the Island, around the walls.
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Bric-a-brac and household items to sell for charity are always appreciated. The crypt is opened on Wed, Thurs, and Fridays (10.30am – 1.30pm)
The parish centre or hall was formerly the school until 1977 when they moved to Ampthill Road, just south of St. Cecilia's Abbey. Parish groups and organisations use the centre. It is available for hire. Contact the parish secretary for further details. Tel. 01983 562171 on Monday or Thursday mormings. |
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A few years after the church was opened the Countess turned her attention to the Catholic children of the parish. She wanted them to have what she never had, - a good, solid Catholic education. The first St. Mary's School was established in what is now the church crypt (probably about 1848 although no records of the early days exist). It was just one classroom for approx. 30 children. In 1852/53 a purpose built school was opened with two classrooms. (This is now St. Mary's Parish Hall). Once again this was financed by the Countess of Clare, who also paid the salary of the two teachers. It was built, like most Catholic schools in Victorian times, on land next to the church. This was convenient for the priest to visit the schoolchildren.
Most of the Catholic families lived in the town, near the church and they would be taken from school into the church for weekly Mass and Benediction. |
In subsequent years the school was extended and portable classrooms constructed in what is now the church car park as the number of schoolchildren increased. When the Presentation Sisters occupied the convent buildings in 1948, several of the nuns taught in the school. In the 1950s Sister Baptist (still resident at the convent and fondly remebered by former pupils) became the Headteacher of St. Mary's School.
In the 1970s it became clear that the school had outgrown the site adjacent to the church and in 1977 a new purpose built school was opened in Ampthill Road (just south of St. Cecilia's Abbey). The old school next to the church was then converted into a parish centre. More information on the history of St. Mary's Church and school can be found in "Ryde to Rome" (history of the early days of the parish) by Peter Clarke which is available in the church crypt or repository. |
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St Mary's Primary School web site
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