Christmas in the 40s
The facade of the R.C. church in Penzance
Statue of the 'Immaculate Conception'
Old view of the Church
Christmas in the 40s
Wartime Procession
Altar servers leaving the church for a procession
The Lady Chapel of the 1950 - 80s
trepolpen

Christmas in the 40s

Mrs Nora Scrase owned this picture of the church decorated for Christmas probably in the 40s. The window behind the altar is there once again, but in the 1950s it had been in-filled and a massive, granite canopy bequeathed by a deceased parishioner was over the altar when I first came to Penzance. This has since been removed in the 1980s and the window re-instated.
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denanmor
Great photo Trepolpen! Hadn t seen this before today (thank goodness for random images!)
I remember this church well from my St Mary s RC School days. This is a lovely image. ::15:
 
Tropicgal
Thanks Trepolpen for bringing back some memories for me. I too remember the church well from my school days at St. Marys RC.
 
treeve
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 Catliolic 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.

The Altar Window.
The window was protected by boarding during WWII, the window appears from this photograph to have been a simple diamond pattern. The window was blocked entirely in the 1950's, obscured by a new a baldachino (since removed). The window tracery ( carved stonework) appears to be the result of an alteration from a group of two or more smaller windows, by looking at the external and internal wall arrangements. The present tracery is most certainly not of 1843.

From the history of the building, and the general design and condition of the tracery, it is my estimate that the tracery and diamond glazing was put in the gable end in 1893 as a part of the Jubilee celebrations. If there is any record or mark in the building to the contrary, I would be glad to hear of its details.












 

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PENZANCE - CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, ROSEVEAN RD
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