Parish History

How it all began

The story of the foundation of the Aldridge Parish is inextricably linked with the Order of the Friars Minor [OFM] and their arrival was part of the re-establishment of Catholicism in the Walsall area over the past 200 years. Between 1800 and 1893 a number of Mass-centres, chapels and churches were built and established in the Walsall area, these included St. Thomas' Bloxwich, St. Mary the Mount Walsall and St. Patrick's Walsall. It was from the St. Patrick's Mission that a Mass-centre was established in the Four Crosses Inn in Sheffield in 1890 to be followed by the building of a school come chapel. In 1924 the Franciscan Order of the Friars Minor took responsibility for the spiritual care of the Shelfield parish, and on October 4th 1932 [the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi] the new church dedicated to St. Francis was opened.

The Walsall Observer noted that "the parish embraces the villages of Shelfield, Aldridge, Pelsall, Rushall and Walsall Wood". A number of Catholics from Aldridge attended Mass in Shelfield in the pre-war years, but in 1939 the first seeds were sown which would result in the building of the church of St. Mary of the Angels some 23 years later.

The First Mass in Aldridge

In 1939 a group of 20 men met in a local shop one evening to discuss the possibility of their being a Catholic Church in Aldridge. The group began raising funds by agreeing to pay one shilling [equivalent of 5p] per week. Next came outdoor collections and the formation of a committee. In 1938 a new Cinema, the Avion, had been built and opened on Anchor Road.

The Committee met with the manager of the new cinema, who gave permission for Mass to be said in the upstairs lounge every Sunday at 9 a.m. The Franciscan Log-book entry for July 1939 gives the clerical perspective 'Thus the campaign for a mass-centre in Aldridge launched with a hearty and encouraging response. Permission was obtained from the Archbishop and approval of the V. Rev. Definitorum'. By October 1939 the logbook records: 'A new mass-centre was opened in Aldridge on Sunday October 8th 1939. By kind permission of the directors and manager of the new Avion Cinema we were enabled to say Mass here at 9 a.m. which was the first Mass said in Aldridge since pre-Reformation days'. By November 1939 Aldridge was described as 'promising well', and following a weekend visit by the V. Rev. Fr. Provincial, he apparently decided that there should be an attempt to buy a suitable property in the area.

The move to Whetstone Lane

The war was affecting the Franciscan community financially, however, the search locally for a suitable property with land continued, as had been decided by the Franciscan Provincial. Eventually a large, rather neglected house in Whetstone Lane, described by a parishioner of the time as being 'dismal and surrounded by lots of trees' was found. The property know as 'ILSHAM LEIGH', standing in its own well-wooded grounds of about 4 acres stretching from Whetstone Lane to Birmingham Road, was bought at auction on 11th March 1941, for and on behalf of the Franciscan Order, for the sum of £1,700. During March 1941 The Provincial came and stayed three days to view the new property in Whetstone Lane, Aldridge.

He decided that the Community should move from Shelfield to Aldridge as soon as possible maintaining, however, all services at Shelfield as usual. It was on Friday 11th July 1941 that the Franciscan Community moved from Shelfield to Aldridge into what was henceforth to be known as THE FRIARY. By September 1941 the community had settled down in their new home and, following a four day canonical visitation by the Very Rev. Fr. Provincial, a suggestion was made that some building should be erected, even a hut, to serve the purposes of a church. Plans were submitted to the Local Council for the erection of a sectional hut, and trees were pulled up on the Harborough Drive side of the Friary to clear a suitable space, however, the Community was informed that the Ministry of Buildings and Works had refused a licence to build on the grounds of a shortage of labour. Meanwhile the largest ground floor room of the Friary was made into a chapel which provided people with daily Mass and a later Mass on Sundays at 11 a.m.

The building of the First Church

The early setback did not deter the parishioners from making plans to build a church in Aldridge. The men of the parish worked hard preparing the land around The Friary for a church to be built. As well as the preparation of the ground, plans were being made to get the money needed to build the church. The use of the Avion Cinema as the parish Mass-centre ended after ten years with the building of the new church hall.

The building, designed by Mr. Ron Wright, who was a parishioner for many years, was to be a dual-purpose building to be used as a church and church hall. The build was completed in eight months and opened on Sunday 9th October 1949, ten years and one day after the first Mass in the Avion.

The event was reported in the Walsall Observer on 15th October 1949 under the headline 'NEW ALDRIDGE CHURCH' continuing 'For the first time Aldridge Roman Catholics on Sunday celebrated High Mass in their own church, a new modern building next to the Friary in Whetstone Lane'. The Solemn High Mass was celebrated in the presence of Mgr. Masterson, Archbishop of Birmingham, who in his address said 'the opening of the church, dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels, was another sign of the growing interest in faith in the district'.

The design of the new building allowed for the Sanctuary to be closed off after the Blessed Sacrament had been taken to the Friary, so that social events could take place. Toilets, a dance floor and a kitchen were installed, and a parishioner recalls that 'the kitchen also doubled as a confessional'. A comment in the early 1960's stated 'and it seemed that the Catholics of Aldridge were set up for life'. The report of the Deanery Visitation in July 1952 notes 'the church-hall has been registered for public worship with a view to its registration for marriages.

This building, now used almost exclusively as a church, is being further and very tastefully equipped for the purpose. The provision of altar-rails and the re-planning of the altar are contemplated for the near future. A sung Mass each Sunday and the peoples weekday visits to the Blessed Sacrament are now features of parochial life here. The building is very much cared for and the provision of vestments excellent both in quality and quantity'. In February 1952 Fr. Valerian installed two statues to adorn either side of the Sanctuary. During the 1950's the overall impression of the Aldridge Catholic community was one of enthusiasm and commitment.

In 1950 Aldridge Urban Council was hoping to build some 150 houses each year as part of the normal post-war programme, however, in 1952 it became known that Aldridge had been selected as a reception area to take surplus population and industry [know as overspill] from Birmingham and Walsall. As this process took place the number of Catholics in the area increased sharply. On 15th January, during a social gathering in the parish-hall, it was announced that in the next year or two it was intended to build a permanent church in Aldridge. The estimated cost for the new church, which was to seat 350-400 on the site between the Friary and Forge Lane, was £25,000. The Provincial informed the Archbishop of Birmingham of the intention to build and new church, who expressed his pleasure and goodwill. It was hoped that the building work would begin in 1961. By September 1960 tenders from 13 builders had been received. The top price was £49,580 and the lowest £39,966 - 7s - 11d, the latter from A. J. Downes and Sons. The architect appointed was Mr. Eric Farmer L.R.I.B.A. who lived in Walsall. The contract was awarded to A. J. Downes and Sons and on 31st October 1960 the Architect and the Quantity Surveyor signed the contract at the Aldridge Friary.

A New Church for Aldridge

On 12th January 1961 came the earliest sign that building operations might begin appeared on the Friary Property. A wooden hut, essential to any construction work, was unloaded from its lorry. In preparation for the main construction work, Messrs Hegarty and Kerrigan who were responsible for the foundations of the building, removed some 90 trees from the site. Progress with the construction work was hampered by bad weather, a miscalculation on the part of the architect with regards to the main load-bearing foundations, and of course, by now, the spiralling cost of the construction. By February 1961 there were major concerns about the huge capital debt. In view of the value of building land in Aldridge at the time it was decided to sell some of the land attached to the Friary.

The blessing and laying of the Foundation Stone by Archbishop Grimshaw took place on the evening of Thursday 13th July 1961. The Foundation Stone carries the inscription: AD REDEMPTORIS GLORIAM EIUSQUE MATRIS MARIAE ANGELORUM REGINAE HONOREM ANGULAREM POSUIT LAPIDEM ARCHIEPUS FRANCISCUS GRIMSHAW (In honour of our Redeemer, and to the glory of His Mother Mary, Queen of the Angels, Archbishop Francis Grimshaw, laid this stone.)

On another face of the stone there is the date on which it was laid and the name of the reigning Pope - John XXIII. Like the first church, the new building was also dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. A contemporary undated and anonymous note explains 'St. Mary of the Angels was the title of the first little ruined church on the outskirts of Assisi, which was given to St. Francis and repaired by him. It is often spoken of as the cradle of the three orders which he founded, and is now enclosed in a huge church - a Papal Basilica - like a precious stone on a rich casket. (This note is slightly inaccurate. The church which St. Francis repaired is the Church of San Damiano on the outskirts of Assisi. However, St. Francis himself built a hut next to the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, and it was from here that he founded the Franciscan Order. Later the Small Chapel of St Mary of the Angels was given to St. Francis on the condition that he made it the mother house of his religious family. This small chapel, now called the Portiuncula (pictured on the 'Our Parish' page of this website) is inside the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. As he (St. Francis) felt his approaching death he asked to be taken back to the Portiuncula where he died in his cell just 15 metres away from the Small Chapel where it all began). During the ceremony of the laying of the Foundation Stone, at which time the site where the new altar would stand was also blessed, Archbishop Grimshaw said 'the Diocese was very proud of the Aldridge Catholics and their efforts...... St. Mary of the Angels would always be looked upon as a memorial to the faith of those who contributed to pay for its costs'. In the Foundation Stone had been placed three farthings and a shilling representing the four significant dates 1924, 1941, 1951, and 1960 along with a local newspaper and a list of those attending the ceremony.

As the building work continued the interest of the Walsall Observer also continued. On Friday 19th October the paper carried pictures of both the exterior of the church, near completion, and the interior where plainly much work remained to be done.

The article said that church would possibly be completed by Christmas. An interesting note was that 'the four and a half hundred weight bell was rung for the first time on Thursday morning last - a symbol of the meeting in Rome of the Roman Catholic Church's Ecumenical Council'. [N.B. The Second Vatican Council opened under John XXIII on 11th October 1962].

The High Altar, at this time positioned at the back of the Sanctuary in front of the Reredos, was framed in a semi-circular twelve foot diameter arch. The Altar consisting of a solid block of Roman Stone marble with a polished finish eight feet by three feet & nine inches thick, stood on a black terrazzo base. The Parish Archives contain a certificate regarding the provenance of the altar relics. It reads 'By special permission granted by the Bishop of Southwark I have consecrated this altar stone enclosing the relics of St. Clarus and St. Reparatus, M.M.' signed on 22nd March 1962 by Mgr. Canon Hubert Gibney, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Southwork. The Reredos figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary surrounded by Angels were cast and carved in 'cement fondu' and fibreglass and set on a background of sculpted Westmoreland green slate.

The Sanctuary and aisles were of terrazzo tiles in which the marble used was black and gold in fairly large irregular pieces. Inset in the Narthex there is a coloured mosaic panel depicting the Franciscan Order with crossed hands, Cross and heavenly rays. The central aisle of the Nave has three inset coloured mosaic panels, the central one a star (which can be seen in the picture) and the two outer ones the Franciscan Cross. Sadly all of these beautiful mosaics have now been covered over when the Sanctuary and aisles were carpeted. The Architect described the pulpit as 'placed on the side and at the front of the Sanctuary faced with a plain block of polished Roman Stone marble similar to the altar and having oak side-panels and railings'. The Altar or Communion Rail was of wrought iron with an oak capping.

The period from mid-December has been described as 'controlled chaos'. The mosaic over the side-entrance (pictured here) carried the date 1962 and therefore the church had to be opened in 1962. On the afternoon of 24th December 1962 Fr. Julian Kennedy blessed the new church. At midnight, Fr. Julian blessed the Christmas Crib, and celebrated the first Mass. On Boxing Day the severest winter for many years set in, this meant that work inside the Church could continue, however, all outside work came to a stand still for three months.

Pentecost brought the first good weather and the paving, tarmac and walling in front of the church was completed in time for the Civic Mass, the first major event to take place in the church. The next major project was the building of the St. Mary of the Angels School. The school was designed to be for 280 pupils although when it opened on 7th January 1964 there were 80 pupil on the roll. However, 6 months later this number had risen to 150. On 14th January 1964 Fr. Ephrem Conway wrote to Archbishop Grimshaw asking him to come to Aldridge to bless the new church and primary school.

This even took place on Saturday June 27th 1964. The programme of the day was as follows:

10.30am - Blessing of the church followed by Solemn
High Mass.
1.00pm - Lunch in the Friary Hall.
3.00pm - Blessing of the school.

The Franciscan Community in Aldridge in the 1960s and 1970s was usually comprised of 3 priests and a brother or 4 priests. Thus the Masses were frequent. A typical week would be as follows:
Sunday - Masses at 8am, 9.30am and 11.15am with Rosary and Benediction at 6.30pm.
Monday - Masses at 9am and 8pm.
Tuesday - Mass at 9am and Evening Mass at 7.30pm with Novena to St. Anthony and veneration of the Relic.
Wednesday - Masses at 9.15am [School] and 8pm.
Thursday - Masses at 9am and 8pm.
Friday - Masses at 9am and 8pm.
Saturday Masses at 8am and 9am. Confessions 11.30am - 12.30pm and 6pm - 7pm.

In the mid-1960s there were major changes in the Liturgy as a result of decisions taken at the Second Vatican Council. On 3rd October 1965, as a result of these changes in the Liturgy, Mass was said for the first time with the priest facing the people using a temporary altar in the Sanctuary near the communion rail. It was not until July 1971 that the High Altar was moved, from its original position at the rear of the Sanctuary, to its present position.

This move involved the lowest of the three Altar Steps being extended out beyond the Sanctuary Arch by some 14ft to create a new Sanctuary step on which to place the altar. Another significant change during this period came in September 1969 with the opening of St. Francis of Assisi Comprehensive School (now St. Francis of Assisi Catholic College) on Erdington Road. The school was officially opened by Archbishop George Patrick Dwyer on 26th October 1971, and it continues to be of great significance to the education of the children of our parish and beyond to the present day.

Unwelcome and Unexpected News

In 1979 came a major unexpected and unwelcome change to the life of the parish. The parish notes for 19th December 1979 announced 'Fr. Provincial has informed us, as a consequence of Resolution 19 of the 1978 Provincial Chapter, the Friars will be handing over the care and charge of the parish to the Archdiocese in July 1980. Fr. Provincial has told us that the date for the official handover of the parish is now April 19th'. Thus, on April 16th Fr. Fabian moved to Manchester. Fr. Norbert, who had served 3 separate spell in Aldridge, as a newly ordained priest in 1942, as Parish Priest when the church hall was built and opened in 1949 and in the 1970s moved to Clevedon. Fr. Con the Parish Priest, was to stay until the 1st week in June pending the arrival of the new Parish Priest. This parish owes members of the Franciscan Order a huge debt of gratitude for the work they carried out in Aldridge over a period of 40 years. During this time, with the dedicated support of many parishioners, the Presbytery (Friary) was purchased, 2 churches built and the Primary and Secondary School opened to serve the children of the parish. The spiritual needs of the parish were fulfilled with great devotion both within the liturgy and by parish visiting and many other activities.

Building on the Franciscan Legacy

Canon Laurence J. Hogarty: Parish Priest 1980 - 1997

Thus the Franciscan era ended and the parish prepared to welcome its new parish priest, Canon Laurence J. Hogarty, who came to Aldridge from his parish at Littlemore, Oxford. In the first parish newsletter following his arrival he wrote 'Dear Parishioners, thank you for the great welcome you have given me. All the good things that have been said about you appear to be true, and I believe that I am going to enjoy working with you'. He also asked that the priest's residence was henceforth to be known as the Presbytery. Canon Hogarty was very keen to get to grips with parish issues and a parish meeting was called for 27th July 1980. The meeting addressed various liturgical and financial matters.

In view of what was described as the perilous state of the parish finances [£10,200 was owed to the Franciscans] a committee was formed to arrange fundraising initiatives, starting with an Autumn Bazaar. It rapidly became apparent to parishioners that the Canon had a very structured and focussed approach to financial affairs. His primary financial objective was clear and timely. It was to clear the parish debt in order that the church could be consecrated.

Undoubtedly the most significant event during the incumbency of Canon Hogarty was the Solemn Consecration of the church on 14th November 1987 by Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville. It represented the culmination of the efforts of many people, led and inspired by Canon Hogarty, to raise the funds to pay off the church debt so that the event could take place. The 25th anniversary of the first Holy Mass in the church was to be on Christmas Eve 1987. For the occasion the church was to be redecorated, and consecration crosses of polished marble installed together with the sconces. In his introduction to the Order of Service the Canon ended 'This is an occasion to remember and give thanks to God for the commitment and dedication of priests and people who built this church. We are delighted to welcome them to our celebration. Some have gone to their rest with God, but most surely they are rejoicing with us today'.

In addition to Canon Hogarty's attention to many minor issues of church maintenance, two of his more significant initiatives have proved of long-term benefit to the parish. Firstly, the original heating system was proving unreliable, inefficient and expensive to run. In 1986, despite the fact that the parish finances were tight he made the decision to install a direct-fired gas heating system at the cost of £9000. Secondly, at a Parish Meeting on 18th July 1982 it was decided to remodel the existing Sacristy area to provide a day Chapel and Community Room. In 1993 this facility was extended and refurbished and officially opened with a celebration after Mass on Wednesday 8th of September, the date which had been decided upon to keep the annual Parish Feast Day. On June 25th 1995 in St. Chad's Cathedral John Higgins was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate. John presided at Night Prayer and Benediction in the church that evening followed by refreshments. By 1997 Canon Hogarty was showing increasing signs of ill health and on Sunday 31st August the Parish Bulletin announced 'Sadly, our Parish Priest Canon Laurence Hogarty died on Thursday last 28th August. Canon served this parish for 17 years and was a truly caring shepherd of his flock here in Aldridge. Please remember him in your prayers'. The Requiem Mass for the Canon was held on Thursday 4th September and he was buried at Streetly Cemetery.

Fr. Paul Watson: Parish Priest 1997 - 1999

On 19th October 1997 the Parish Bulletin welcomed our New Parish Priest Father Paul Watson. Fr. Paul came to Aldridge from Stoke-on-Trent. The Mass of Induction was celebrated on 12th February 1998. During his homily, Canon Taylor accurately predicted that Fr. Paul's stay in Aldridge would not be a long one. In January 1999 Fr. Paul celebrated his 25th anniversary of ordination with Mass followed by refreshments in the Friary Hall with a large number of guests. In April of the same year Fr. Paul led a parish pilgrimage to Rome and Sorrento. However, on 22nd August Fr. Paul celebrated Mass as Parish Priest for the last time before his departure to the Maryvale Institute where he took up his new post as Rector.

Canon Gerard Hanlon: Parish Priest 1999 - 2011

Fr. Paul was shortly succeeded by Canon Gerard Hanlon, who was inducted as Parish Priest on November 18th 1999. January 2000 saw the announcement by Canon Hanlon of a proposed refurbishment of the church. By early February the architect had produced plans which were displayed at the back of the church. The church was re-decorated, the lighting improved and the porch area extended with the toilet facilities rebuilt. As the work progressed the two side altars, together with their steps, were removed to 'give a more spacious Sanctuary', and the roof over the side aisles were replaced. At the same time carpets were fitted throughout the church and porch.

It was thought that this would improve the acoustics and reduce the echo effect affecting the loudspeaker system. In December 2002 the Canon was admitted to hospital for an operation which proved the start of an ordeal which he endured with great courage and cheerfulness for the remainder of his time here in the parish which lasted until July 2011. At times during this period the Canon was absent for long periods of time undergoing treatment or convalescing.

Fr. Michael Leadbeater took over the Canon's Mass duties for 12 months during 2003/4 and Deacon John took up residence in the Presbytery to carry out the day to day running of the parish. 25th June 2005 saw the tenth anniversary of the ordination of Deacon John, to whom the parish owes so much, particularly for his work during the Canon's illness. Still there was more work done on the church and other facilities. During the summer of 2005 the roof of the meeting room was replaced, the meeting room was re-wired and the Sacristy was given new lighting and heating. In March 2007 a new font was placed in the Sanctuary and panels to match were added to the front and sides of the pedestal upon which sits the Tabernacle. The Canon's bulletin notes read 'I hope you agree that they enhance the Sanctuary area'. In spite of his increasingly poor health the Canon celebrated his 65th birthday with a party in the Friary Hall. On Wednesday 21st March the Canon celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination with a Mass, celebrated by Bishop McGough, followed by a 'feast' in the Friary Hall. Shortly after this the Canon's condition worsened markedly with almost continuous treatments and operations. The parish bulletin of 23rd January 2011 reported that the Canon had been seriously ill and it was announced that Fr. Leadbeater 'will be with us for the foreseeable future'. In early July 2011 Canon Hanlon announced that he would be leaving the parish to go to a care home in Coleshill until a more permanent place could be found for him at St. Joseph's, Harborne. He asked "Please remember me in your prayers as I will always remember you". The following week Fr. Michael Leadbeater announced that he had been asked by the Archbishop to become the new Parish Priest and he 'accepted willingly with a sense of joy'.

Canon Michael J. Leadbeater: Parish Priest 2011 - 2018

Fr. Michael Leadbeater (one of a number of married priests in the Archdiocese) became the Parish Priest in July 2011 and was inducted on Thursday 6th October 2011. Canon Hanlon had begun the process of improving the heating in the large Presbytery by installing double-glazing (including preserving the stained glass features of the windows). The next task was to replace the seriously inefficient central heating system, which Fr. Michael began immediately.

On the day the engineers arrived Fr. Michael received a frantic telephone call to let him know that large amounts of asbestos had been discovered under the floor boards and in the roof space of the house. Immediately every thing went on hold while this was removed at enormous cost. Eventually the heating system was installed, but because of issues arising from the works undertaken the house had to be redecorated along with some lighting upgraded.

A whole year went by before Fr. Michael and his wife, Christine were able to live in the house when other minor issues were dealt with along with the usual maintenance and repairs which are always ongoing, including replacing worn out appliances and the instillation of additional security lighting.
In the year 2012/2013 the whole church observed a Year of Faith encouraging Catholics worldwide to celebrate and share their faith. At the time, Fr. Michael was Dean of the Walsall Deanery (serving two terms) and one of the major events which brought together the parishes was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament led by Archbishop Bernard Longley, the Archbishop of Birmingham, down Park Street in the centre of Walsall.

Around 1,000 people took part with the people of the Syro-Malabar Rite being very much in evidence with colourful clothes and ceremonial umbrellas.

2012 was also the Jubilee Year of St. Mary of the Angels, being opened for Mass for the first time at Christmas 1962. It was, therefore, decided to mark the Year of Faith in a more permanent way by having the tower restored and refurbished, and the bell rehung. Both of these were much needed. At last the bell, which had remained silent for many years, could be rung once more! In addition to this the skills of a long standing parishioner gave the parish a new notice board (headed 1962-2012) as a way of displaying current information about the life of the parish.

During the Jubilee Year Archbishop Bernard came to the parish to celebrate Mass to mark this important milestone.

Of course, like the Presbytery, the church building itself needed ongoing work. This included the organ being stripped down and rebuilt, the heating system being upgraded and the building redecorated. The piety stall area was improved, and the Relics of the Saints (which had until now been hidden away in the safe) were properly housed in the sacristy.

The old church/hall which was now home to the parish social club was coming to the end of its useful life. Originally built at the beginning of WWII it required extensive refurbishment at a cost far beyond its value. The social club was also by now in serious decline, so when this eventually folded it was decided to demolish the old hall and to make plans for something to replace it.

As a beginning the meeting room, located behind the Presbytery and connected to the church via the sacristy corridor, was enhanced with a new door giving disabled access. The footprint of the old building was given a temporary surface to allow for an unofficial car park with the addition of new security lighting, and an apparently dangerous-looking large sycamore tree was removed to give space for any future building.

As most churches now need to be locked and secure when not open for Mass and other parish events it was felt that provision for parishioners to be able to pray should be provided. The Prayer Garden at the rear of the building has served this purpose well with donations of devotional items donated by parishioners including a large crucifix and a statue of Our Lady in a suitable shrine. Plants were also donated and the area was landscaped by Joe Vale.

The garden has matured beautifully. In addition a set of Stations of the Cross were fixed to the outside wall of the Sanctuary with the final station on the wall area of the Prayer Garden. Each station was donated in memory of a departed loved one and parishioner with a slate plaque recording their names as a permanent reminder.

In 2016 Fr. Michael was nominated a Canon of the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Chad's Cathedral, and was installed in February 2017. Many parishioners attended the ceremony and a party was held in the parish meeting room the following Sunday.
During his time as the Parish Priest Canon Michael continued as Chaplain to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic College, where many of the young people at St. Mary of the Angels attended school. His time at the school began in 1996 when he taught in the RE Department and continued as Chaplain from 1998 to 2018.

He has many happy memories of life at the school with his association with students and staff. Canon Michael, whose age and health were catching up on him, retired in October 2018. He still has many friends in the parish with whom he maintains contact. Having retired in the parish, and living not far from the church, Canon Michael and Christine can still hear the sound of the church bell as it rings out the Angelus/Regina Cæli each day. Fr. Craig and the parish remain in his prayers.

Fr. Craig A. Davies: Parish Priest 2018 - 2024

Canon Michael was succeeded by Fr. Craig Davies in October 2018, and he was inducted as the Parish Priest of St. Mary of the Angels on Monday 10th December 2018. Having served as curate at Sacred Heart and Holy Souls in Acocks Green, and Our Lady Mt. Carmel in Redditch, this is the first appointment for Fr. Craig as Parish Priest.

To be continued...

Priests who have Served the Parish

Priests of the Order of the Friars Minor (Franciscans)

1939 - Fr. Theobald Brennan O.F.M. (RIP)
1948 - Fr. Norbert Holland O.F.M. (RIP)
1951 - Fr. Valerian Picroni O.F.M. (RIP)
1954 - Fr. Aiden Jackson O.F.M. (RIP)
1960 - Fr. Julian Kennedy O.F.M. (RIP)
1963 - Fr. Ephrem Conway O.F.M. (RIP)
1966 - Fr. Charles Murphy O.F.M. (RIP)
1969 - Fr. Cassian Frost O.F.M. (RIP)
1972 - Fr. Con O'Connell O.F.M. (RIP)

Priests of the Archdiocese of Birmingham

1980 - The Very Rev. Laurence J. Hogarty (RIP)
1997 - Fr. Paul Watson (RIP)
1999 - The Very Rev. Gerard Hanlon (RIP)
2011 - The Very Rev. Michael J. Leadbeater
2018 - Fr. Craig A. Davies
2024 - Fr. Ramesh Echu (Current Parish Priest)

Here we have been given an insight into the life of our parish as it has unfolded since the 1940's. I hope that you have enjoyed reading it. It is therefore only right that we offer our thanks for the hard work, and many hours of research by parishioners, both past and present, who have contributed to the recording of the history of our parish.