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ST THOMAS' CHURCH HISTORY IN DEAL
Historical remains indicate that the Catholic faith was practised in this area in Saxon times and church records name St Richard of Chichester as the first Rector of Deal in 1243. Following the Reformation and the suppression of Catholicism there is no reference to adherents of the Faith until the 18th Century, when, by virtue of the importance of the Downs as a Naval Station and the building of a Naval Yard in the town, Catholic sailors were often to be found ashore. Up until the early 19th century itinerant missionary priests visited the area at intervals and ministered to the spiritual needs of the few Catholics they could find. However, 1847, Miss Catharine Boys, a convert to the Faith, was instrumental in acquiring an unused hall which was blessed and dedicated to St Mary, the Immaculate Conception and St Benedict. The Chapel could be opened only for the occasional celebration of Holy Mass as there was no resident priest. For ten years, from 1857, the Benedictine Fathers from Ramsgate ran the Deal Mission while residing in lodgings in the town. Then Fr James Scratton OSB was appointed resident Priest-in-Charge in 1869 and for the following 15 years devoted himself to collecting funds for the erection of a permanent Church. It was through Fr Scratton’s many personal sacrifices and careful running of the Mission that the land in Blenheim Road was purchased. Sadly he was not to see the fulfilment of his dream - he died in April 1884 and the work on the foundations of the new Church were commenced in January 1885.
Mgr Ladislaus Daniewski, Chaplain to the Monastry of the Visitation in Walmer, had succeeded Fr Stratton and on 16th February 1885 he performed the blessing of the Foundation Stone of the new Church. Encased in the Stone was a bottle containing a parchment record of the Dedication of the Church to St Thomas of Canterbury during the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIII. In 1890 the Visitation Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was completed and was given to the Parish in 1971. After consecrating the High Altar, the Church was formally opened on 29th December, 1885, the Feast of St Thomas of Canterbury, by His Lordship the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev. John Butt. The architecture of the Church is in the late Norman style. The most striking feature of the interior is undoubtedly the High Altar. The Western end of the crossing was originally spanned by a carved and decorated rood-beam with figures in carved wood. This was taken down about 1898 as it was considered unsafe but later the Crucifix and figures of Our Lady and St John were replaced as they can be seen today. In the 1920s Fr Wonnacott organised the completion of the interior of the Church — this included the erection of a stone pulpit; a reredos with tabernacle over the Lady Altar, and a wrought iron screen was placed between the Chancel and the Lady Chapel together with a stone niche and pedestal for the Sacred Heart statue. A new organ was installed — the instrument still in use today. A porch was also added to the West front of the Church. Then followed the redecoration of the interior in the colourful designs of the Renaissance Period which, on completion, was believed to be the finest example of its kind in England, especially the High Altar. Today, the High Altar together with the Consecration Crosses are the only part of the interior left which can give some idea of this style of decoration. In 1926, in recognition of the work carried out at Deal, the Mission was canonically raised to the status of a Parish, Fr Wonnacott becoming the first Parish Priest of Deal for nearly 400 years. St Thomas’ was consecrated on 8th August 1928 by Bishop Peter Emmanuel Amigo. St Thomas’ has welcomed many visitors, both from home and abroad, and this hospitality continues. In the 1914—18 War many Belgian refugees crossed the Channel and Deal and the parishioners of St Thomas’ opened their doors to them. Fr Limpens, Parish Priest at the time and a Belgian by birth, was called upon to act as interpreter. Each Sunday he preached in three languages—English, French and Flemish. During the last War, on one day in October 1940 bombs were dropped at intervals along the length of Blenheim Road; there was not one undamaged property, including St Thomas’ Church and Presbytery. In all, the windows of the Church were blown out five times during the hostilities. At the end of the War a Thanksgiving Memorial Window was erected in the Lady Chapel. A forecourt between the Church and the Becket Centre (opened in 1968) has been constructed making it possible for parishioners to talk together after Masses; also providing off-street parking for official cars during weddings and funerals. A Grotto with a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes has been erected in the front garden of the Presbytery. With the opening of the Chapel in 1847 the Catholic Soldiers from the Walmer Garrison came down in marching order on Sunday mornings to attend Mass. The War Office approved the appointment of a Catholic Chaplain in 1855. This work was undertaken by the Mission Priest and Mass was celebrated in an open-fronted barn as, by law, it was not allowed to be said in the Garrison building. However, a Chapel/School in Canada Road (later to be the Royal Marines Concert Hall) was opened in 1858 to be used by all denominations. In 1905 when the Church of St Michael and All Angels opened for Church of England adherents, the small Chapel continued to be used as a School and the Catholic Servicemen came to Deal for Sunday Mass.
Parish Priests of Deal (from available records)
1243 Richard de la Wyche — Born in Worcestershire, his estates were lost to him by the
1280 William de Holaym 1533 Hugh Glazier B.D. — An Oxford Franciscan in 1534 he apostatised. In 1541 Cranmer appointed him Commissary General of Calais and in 1542 he was instituted to the seventh prebend of Canterbury Cathedral. On the accession of Mary (a Catholic) he was reconciled and appointed Parish Priest of Deal and later a Canon of Canterbury. When Elizabeth came to the throne he adhered to his Catholicism and was deprived of his preferments in 1559. The Parish Church of Deal was dedicated in honour of St. Leonard and was situated in the North-West of the present Town. (Large portions of the twelfth century Church still exist). When Hugh Glazier was deprived this Church was given over to Protestant Worship. Catholic Worship was put down with the utmost rigour of the law - e.g. the penalty for saying Mass was, - from the accession of Elizabeth until 1700, - death; from 1700 to 1778, imprisonment for life, and from 1778 to 1791, six months imprisonment. As a result of this continual persecution Catholicism in Kent dwindled; in 1858 there were 'No Papists in Deal'; but nonetheless a few began to settle here and were ministered to by wandering priests, notably Father Costigan. Gradual increase in numbers necessitated some suitable accommodation being found for a Chapel, and in 1842 a Hall in Duke Street was acquired and opened as a Mission Church. 1544 Robert Harman He apparently took the oath acknowledging the supremacy of Henry VIII in matters religious (enforced November, 1534). This implied the adjuration of Papal Authority; and by his action Harman became a schismatic. In 1549 he abandoned the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and adopted the Protestant Liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer instead, thereby declaring himself a Protestant. He was succeeded in 1551 by Edmund Farley LL.B. a Protestant
Mission and Parish Priests - Mission Chapel, Duke Street.
1842 Fr C. Woollett 1857/67 In 1857 Benedictine monks of St Augustine’s, Abbey. Ramsgate, took over the Mission. In 1867 the Mission was again committed to the care of the Secular Clergy.
1867 Fr Richard Power 1884 Mgr Ladislaus Daniewski, Apostolic Protonotary. During his rectorship the present Church of St. Thomas the Martyr was built, from designs by Mr. F.A. Walters. It was opened on the Feast of St. Thomas, 29th December, 1885
Mission Church of St Thomas of Canterbury.
1885 Mgr Daniewski 1923 Fr William H. Wonnacott Until now it was impossible for a Canonical Parish to be re-established, owing to the heavy debt on the Church Property. However, this was cleared in 1924 and Father W.H.Wonnacott was made the first Parish Priest of Deal since the Reformation - by the Bishop of Southwark, who himself as Bishop of the Diocese had received power and authority to appoint Parish priests from the same source whence all the Bishops of England received such power prior to 1534, ie The Pope; there being indeed no other source of authority known to the Catholic Church.
Parish Church of St Thomas of Canterbury
1926 the Miners’ Mission established at Mill Hill and in 1934 became the separate Parish of Mongeham. 1985 Centenary Year. The culmination of events to mark 100 years of worship in St Thomas’ Church was a special Mass at which the Rt Rev. Francis J. Walmsley CBE, Bishop-in-Ordinary to the Forces, was the principal concelebrant.
1992 Fr. Lawrence Hobbs
2004: October: the major repairs to St. Thomas's Church commenced. The tiled roof will be completely replaced, as will all guttering. It is estimated that about one thousand bricks in the building will have to be replaced. Repointing will also take place and some internal painting will be undertaken.
2005 April the work on the building continues. The estimated number of bricks - 1000, turned to be be 2,500!!! The roof has been completed and painting has commenced. Some repointing remains to be done. Thanks to the generosity of a parishioner, who wishes anonymity, a new notice board has been obtained and affixed to the external wall.
2006 The Church Organ which has not been in use for some years has been stripped in preparation for a complete overhaul and refurbishment, as well as some enhancement of pipes. The work is due to be completed by Christmas. | |||||||||
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