ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSECRATION OF OUR LADY’S CHURCH

Wednesday 8th May marks the anniversary not only of the Opening of Our Lady’s Church in 1935 but also the anniversary of its Consecration in 1951. At that time, the practice was that a church could not be consecrated until the capital debt had been paid off. It was a remarkable achievement, thanks to the inspiration of the then parish priest, Father (later, Canon) Short, and to the generosity and hard work of parishioners, that the debt could be cleared so quickly. The Consecration ceremony lasted approximately four hours. Included in the ceremony was the anointing with chrism of twelve points around the church. These points are marked by twelve candles and represent the twelve Apostles upon whom the Church is built (see Ephesians 2, 20).The anniversary of the Consecration of a church ranks as a solemnity, the highest type of feast.