Today we celebrate exactly 120 years since the consecration of St Joseph and the English Martyrs Catholic Church on 19 June 1906 by Auxiliary Bishop James Fenton.
The Redemptorist fathers had purchased a large property near the middle of the town and the church was built on the site of the stables of the estate. In due course the Fathers greatly increased the size of their monastery and intensively cultivated its land. The Bishop’s Stortford monastery was one of the places from which fathers went all over the country preaching Missions in Parishes.
The church was built in 1900, but before a church can be consecrated it must not only be finished but free from debt and on a freehold property.
Cardinal Francis Bourne was scheduled to perform the consecration, but Auxiliary Bishop Fenton stood in. A carved stone inscription over the side entrance incorrectly attributes the consecration to Archbishop Bourne.
We give thanks and keep in our prayers all those many Priests and Parishioners past and present who made our beautiful church into the wonderful parish it is today and continue to do so.