St John the Evangelist Wallingford

St John the Evangelist Catholic Church Wallingford to give it's correct name
Before there was any Mass centre in Wallingford, a handful of Catholics would have attended Mass at either Dorchester to the north or Goring to the south.
In the autumn of 1924 the Catholic Community of Wallingford purchased an old Congregational chapel which had been built in the market place in 1799. Some years before it had ceased to be a place of worship, and had been used as a furniture store and bazaar. It was repaired, refurbished and re-opened as a Catholic Church in late 1924.
Eventually the need for larger accommodation proved a challenge. In 1958 it was decided to rebuild on the same site. While this work was going on, Mass was said in the Town Hall. The original chapel was demolished and the new and enlarged church was built.  It has had quite a few priests since it was purchased.

James Doran (served from Abingdon) 1924-1934

James Campbell (served from Didcot) 1934-1937

Arthur Olney 1937-1947

Abraham Jacob 1947-1957

William J Kearney 1958-1970

John D Dwyer 1970-1989

Donal O’Brien 1989-2006

David O'Sullivan 2006 -?

Since writing this I have found out Father David has moved on and Father Philip Harris has taken over.

(The history came from the church website)

This is the church as you see it today and the porch is a recent addition which a few years after building had a toilet added over to the right. I often wonder why it was never made the full width.  The front has been in the photograph of many marriages

So what do I remember of the church. Well just about remember Father  Jacob but fondest were of Father J Kearney who I used to serve mass for. At confessions Sat morning I could be kneeling at altar rails with my mate Dominic and Father J Kearney would walk up behind us and skelp me round the ear playfully  and slip my friend Dominic a bar of Chocolate, I was very sad when I heard he passed away. He retired in 1970 and  Father Dwyer took over. He was a nice priest and quite spoken  He buried my Father from her and a few years later  my wife & I were married here.  Father O’Brien was another nice priest who I met when I took my Mother to Mass he was also the priest who buried my Mother, it was a shame he moved to a  position elsewhere. The last Priest I met was Father O'Sullivan or Father David as he likes to be called is a very happy person who I found very helpful even though I don't visit his church as often as he would like.  

 

 The photo along the aisle was taken a number of years ago

 

 But recently I went in to esquire on a funeral that was happening the following week
The Altar had changed a little

 

 with the beautiful marble table now on show

Above is the Crucifix which I remember from my childhood though the figure of Christ is the same I think the cross has been changed 

 

 The Church Tabernacle  now sits on it's own plinth between the cancels and icon pictures either side

 

 2016

 

 

2024

 

The altar with crucifix above, it was shortened because I remember it being longer

The altar I remember after it was first moved was white and the legs a different shape

Looking to the entrance where the organ loft used to be, I feel it took away some of the feeling of the church

Stations of the cross along the walls

 

Our Lady with Jesus

Funny thing is the candle holder does not seem to have changed much

 

The inside of St John the Evangelist this has changed over the years. The pews you see were originally the pews from the Congregational chapel and when it was rebuilt in 1958 my Father got one of the pews and made a garden bench out of it we had for years. The pews you see in the photo have been in the church since it was rebuilt. The church was modernised in the 1990's to how you see it now. The altar rails were removed and no doubt sold off though I do still have one of the spare wrought brass pieces made for it. The blue and green glass frame you see was added and above where I am stood was a balcony which had become unsafe and was also removed. The roof beams above had top be fixed as they are laminated and had started to come apart, hopefully the church will survive a good few years more. since I wrote this some changes have been made to the church which I think have made an improvement.  One of these days you will see me at the back again during mass as the church still has a special place for me as I remember walking down the aisle with my new wife and big grin.

 

Till Next time have a peaceful week