Holy Mother of Rosevean Road

trepolpen · Apr 11, 2008

As one who has a devotion to Our Lady and a fondness for this church, I appreciate your comments. She often has pigeons for companions who roost there overnight and may be contributing to the erosion.

trepolpen · Apr 11, 2008

I wonder also if you have taken a look at my 4-page album of Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rosevean Road which shows the church from many different angles. The album may be a little hidden away among my others.

treeve · Apr 11, 2008

I have seen a number of those pictures, I will have another look ... I only ever went in there the once as a child. I am one of those Protestant Bible Christians from High Street; but my beliefs stretch further than their origins.

treeve · Mar 25, 2010

Church of the Immaculate Conception
Penzance, Rosevean Road.
In 1837, Fr. W. Ivers attempted to found a mission here, but failed.
In July 1840, Fr. W. Young came to the town and built the church. The schools were situated underneath. Father William (Will) Young, came from Ireland, and arrived at Penzance 19th July 1840; he lived at an old school in Morrab Terrace, which he also used as a chapel; In the 1841 Census he was living at Cornwall Terrace, and used a small methodist Chapel, near Newlyn Bridge for his church. After receipt of much help from his friends in Ireland, he purchased Barber's Acre, a field on the 4th June 1841. He had already built churches at Baldoyle and Kinsaley (Dublin) and so the building started. The church was built entirely at the enthusiasm and hard work of Father Young, who tirelessly pursued funds and willing hands. He engaged all those he could to ensure the church was built. It certainly appears that he either cajoled architectural assistance or, more likely, that he had designed it and manged the whole project himself; his funds were available as work commenced, but no more than was necessary for each and every week. Workmen were not of those employed as part of commercial builders, but those of willing and strong hands. Unfortunately the finances became constrained, and it looked as if the roof would never go on the building. Father Young took it on his shoulders to return to Ireland and plead yet more help.The roof was completed, and the Church opened. The opening took place October 26, 1843. The care of the place was made over to the French Conceptionist Order. The mission having fallen into financial difficulties, bankruptcy was averted by Bishop Errington of Plymouth who advanced the sum of £950 to the rector. Most of the funds for building of the new church were collected by Fr. Young in London. The Bishop of Marseilles, Superior-General of the Conceptionists, also liberally subscribed. A Catholic lending library was established in connection with the church in 1847, and proved very useful. Among the many converts who were received into the Church at Penzance was Miss Elizabeth Peel, cousin of the great statesman Sir Robert Peel. Sir Paul Molesworth, Bart., of Keneggie, was the chief Catholic in the neighbourhood of Penzance at this time. In October 1884: a splendid new organ, by G. Tucker, of Plymouth, was installed in the church. The cost of the instrument was £350, of which £100 was given by John McAlister, Esq., a member of the congregation. Canon Shortland was priest at Penzance from 1859 till his 'terribly sudden death' in July 1889. In 1892 new schools were erected at a cost of £1,300 on a site given by James Runnalls, Esq. The jubilee of the Penzance mission was celebrated with much ceremony in November 1893. It would appear that part of that celebration was the formation of the new window that replaced the former windows.

Holy Mother of Rosevean Road

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