The Right Reverend John Murphy, Bishop of Shrewsbury, opened the new St Joseph's church on 31st August 1954.

The Bishop and the clergy, seventy or eighty in number, assembled in the Convent gym they then walked in solemn procession through the rose garden to the church across the road. After the impressive two-hour ceremony during which the Convent girls formed the Choir, his Lordship, the clergy, the architect, the builders and a few other distinguished guests had lunch in the Convent Dining Room, which had been newly decorated for the occasion.

 

St Joseph's Church, just before the opening in 1954

At the opening ceremony the architect, Mr Adrian Gilbert Scott said that St Joseph's was the smallest church he had built, and likened it to a little village maiden.

After that day, the parish Sunday Masses were said in the church, but as Father Stone remained the Convent Chaplain, weekday masses where still said in the chapel. This continued until the middle of 1955 when Father Stone, as Rector of Upton, moved into the newly built presbytery and Father Benedict Fenlon was appointed as the convent's chaplain.

Father Stone only remained at Upton for three years after the new church was opened and left In 1957.

Father Stone was replaced by Father (later Canon) Cormac McGonagle. Shortly after arriving at Upton, Father McGonagle asked the bishop for permission to say a third mass each Sunday morning, at 10.45 to suit the only bus from the Noctorum Area, where there were 48 Catholic homes. He also had the gas convector heaters replaced by a new oil fired central heating system.

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Do you have any pictures of Upton, or of events in and around Upton either old or not so old?

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If you do, please contact me by e-mail at frank@upton.cx