This shows the church in about the 1930-40s perhaps and was lent to me by Mrs Nora Scrase. Note the railings at the front and the decorative ridge along the roof. The Church itself was built in the 1840s by Fr Young who enlisted the financial and building talents of Cornishmen of the town and Irishmen back home. It was one of the first Catholic churches to be built in Cornwall since the Reformation.
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 in 1843.
Raymond Forward
