Plymouth, Roman Catholic Church of St Michael and St Joseph, Devonport

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF St MICHAEL AND St JOSPEH, DEVONPORT

The old Roman Catholic Church of St Michael and St Joseph was located in James Street, Devonport. The modern church, dedicated only to St Joseph, is situated in Raglan Road, Devonport.

Apparently the parish dates back to the Autumn of 1793. A Franciscan priest by the name of Father Flynn celebrated the first Mass in Stoke Damerel since the Reformation in a stable loft hired from the landlord of the George Inn in Fore Street. In 1803 a French priest by the name of Abbé Jean Louis Guilbert, took over the parish and on December 20th 1807 he celebrated Mass in the Chapel of St Mary and St John, which, in 1838, became the Plymouth Cathedral.

But Bishop Vaughan wanted to build a church for the Catholics in Devonport and for the sailors who were regularly in port. To do this he applied to the Secretary of State for War, Lord Panmure, for a site. The strength of numbers averaging at least eight hundred of the faithful swung the argument and "Princes Gardens" at Mutton Cove was offered. Schools were built on the south side of the site and Chapel Street School moved in. By September 24th 1859 the Bishop was able to build the nave and south aisle for a church. This became the Church of St. Michael and St. Joseph and its foundation stone was laid on June 25th 1860. The building work, done by Mr Roberts, the builder of the Cathedral, was completed in 1861. The opening celebration led by the Right Reverend Doctor Vaughan took place on Thursday December 19th 1861. This was the military chaplaincy for the army and navy.

It was built of limestone in the Early Gothic style and the architect was Mr J A Hansom, of Clifton, Bristol.

The chancel, north aisle and Lady Chapel were added in 1884 and were designed by Mr H A K Gribble. There was a small turret in the south-west corner.

Following the Second World War, when most of the housing around the Church was destroyed, it was decided that it was necessary to move the Church and schools to a more convenient area. First to move was the school, which transferred to its new site in Raglan Road in 1972. Then on May 15th 1984 the old Church was sold and then demolished.

On the Feast of St Joseph, March 19th 1985, the Right Reverend Cyril Restieaux, Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth, laid the foundation stone of the new building in Raglan Road, on the site of the old Raglan Barracks. He returned to dedicate the Church on Sunday November 10th 1985.

The new building was designed by Mr Christopher Bilson and parts of the old one were used in the new Church, including the foundation stone that was laid way back in 1860. It cost £250,000.