Memories of Chirk

[keithwynne]

Original Title: Catholic Church in Chirk

Hello list,
Can someone tell me when the Catholic Church in Chirk was built and anything about its history?
Thankyou
Keithwynne



Moderator Comment: The original title has been changed to reflect that this topic is gradually encompassing other memories of Chirk, too.

[Gadget]

Hi Keith 

The unusual 1929 wooden white and black Roman Catholic Church is located in Castle Road

from http://www.ceiriog.co.uk/chirk.html


Gadget

[Gadget]

Hi again Keith

A bit more:

Lady Rosamund Trevor.....the second wife of Arthur William Hill Trevor....They married in 1897........As a staunch Roman Catholic she had already built a small timber catholic church at the top end of Chirk Green close to the grounds of Brynkinallt Cottage, where the twenty or so catholics of the neighbourhood came to worship, and which served for the next fifteen years, until replaced.

Neville Hurdsman  A History of the Parish of Chirk, Bridge Books, Wrexham, 1996, page 128


Gadget

[keithwynne]

Hi Gadget,
You've done it again.
I missed that snippet in Hurdsman's book although my wife, a catholic who has attended the church in Chirk, suggested that either the Howard-de-Waldens or the Trevors were likely to have paid for the building at its present site since both had catholic connections.
Still I wonder before 1929 where did Chirk catholics attend mass?
Kind regards and thanks
Keith

[Gadget]

Hi Keith

I think you missed my last message - they attended mass at the small chapel/church that Rosamund Trevor built close to Brynkinallt Cottage at Chirk Green.

As you might know my mother's brother married into one of the main RC families in Chirk - the Pierce/Pearce family - and a cousin on Dad's side married an Irish RC and converted so I've been to that 1929 RC Church a few times for marriages 

I also went to  lots of 'Sales of Works' at the Convent that the Sisters of the Sacred Heart lived in with friends who were RC.

I recall that my Mum was keen to send me to the nursery there when I was 3 (I was a handful and ready for school  ) but Dad wouldn't allow it because he thought that 'they'd get me'.  Dad's father's family were strong Methodists so there was a lot of prejudice in those days.

It's strange now looking back at such views but that's how it was.  I finally went to the C of E school 2 months after my 4th birthday.

Do you remember the small mausoleum that Lady Rosamund built for her daughter, Moira, in the Church Yard. it was directly opposite my Mum's parents grave so I went every week with Dad when he went to tend the graves and I  loved looking through that little window to see the statue of the little angel with flowers in her hand. It was so peaceful and still and mysterious.

I expect that I'm still 'a handful'

 


Gadget

[janetj]

Hi,
Can you tell me please where the Methodist Church is (was) in Chirk which our joint great grandfather attended? I suspect it is the one in Chapel Lane where it meets the main road. You - a handful - never!

[JustLooking]

Hello Janet

Your other cousin here 

I think the chapel was the one in Chapel Lane because that's where Uncle John Oliver went.

The others -

one opposite Brynkinallt Park (on what is know called Colliery Road , I think) was the Welsh one
one in Station Road
One in Church Street
one in Black Park (which Henry and Lizzzie helped raise funds for)

I'm sure there was a Chirk Green Chapel but I can't remember where it was 


JL

[keithwynne]

Hello JL,

Can you remind me please, where and what was the chapel  in Church Street in Chirk.
When I was last in Chirk, I was saddened to see the Welsh Chapel at the top of Bronywaun was apparently no longer used and looked very dilapidated and neglected. They never had a large congregation but their singing of Welsh hymns was wonderful.
Keith

[JustLooking]

Hello Keith

I just have a vague recollection (of maybe 60 years ago) of people coming out of a building on the West side near to where the Co-op had their furniture dept. I'm just wondering if it was a minister's house or a chapel.

I remember asking why there were so many chapels and only one church.


JL