PARISH IN Focus: ST PATRICK'S, WOOTON, SOUTHAMPTON

A flourishin •
corn mu nity STPATRICK'S CHURCH stands on the brow of a hill that slopes down to the lapping waters of the River Itchen. The church occupies a lane tract of land framed o on side by a busy main road and on another by a quiet side street. Serried factory rooftops cluster down by the river's edge. The Vosper Thornycroft shipworks stands out among them, a remnant of Southampton's once thriving shipping industry. St Patrick's church has been the place of worship of many workers and their families over the years.
I walk up from the riverside towards the church to find Mrs Rita Fisher and Mrs Chrissie Callaghan waiting for me inside the church. Rita is the Chair of the parish development committee and Chrissie is a long standing parishioner with extraordinary local knowledge. We sit at the back of the church looking over many rows of chairs to the sanctuary. The church is long, tall and wide giving an impressive sense of spaciousness. This is in striking contrast to its early years.
At the turn of the Century, the Catholic community worshipped in a "little tin church" close to the present building. The land was the gift of an Anglican churchman. Mrs Callaghan arrived in Woolston from Scotland with her husband in 1938. In that year, the foundation stone of the present church was laid in the presence of the Bishop of Portsmouth. In the following year the church was opened to serve the areas of Woolston, Bitterne, Hamble, Sholing and Itchen. Almost six decades later this seems an enormous parish; yet the church was built to hold a substantial congregation
which accounts for its Jinitsuall
large dimen sions. Sadly not long after the completion of the church, the building was gutted by fire following an air raid. A large riverside aircraft factory made Woolston vulnerable to Luftwaffe attacks. Mrs Callaghan describes how the then parish priest, Fr Lane ran into the flames to rescue the Blessed Sacrament.
After the war, the interior of the church needed to be completely rebuilt. This task required energy and perseverance. The parish was fortunate that Canon Anthony Ibbett was appointed parish priest in 1947. Canon Ibbett, a former Desert Rat, was a man of great tenacity and resourcefulness. He had a leadership style that got things done when they were needed. "You could talk to him, but you couldn't tell him," recalls Mrs Callaghan. He is remembered by the parish as an "outstanding man", responsible more than any other single person for its present shape. The Canon served for 32 years, continually concerned by the church's steep debts. These had been incurred during the church's reconstruction in 1950-51. The congregation of St Patrick's themselves paid for the restoration work. Although the parish was not rich, many of the working men gave up substantial portions of their salary to refurbish the church. "This parish was hard-working beyond anything," remembers Mrs Callaghan, whose own husband worked many hours of overtime to pay for a Station of the Cross for the refurbished church. At the same time, Mrs Callaghan, herself a doughty fundraiser, ran bazaars and raffles to help keep the church afloat.
The result of such individual sacrifices was a beautifully restored church equipped for post-war life. The church has been remodelled several times since, particularly in the wake of Vatican II. The walls are no longer painted in battleship grey, but in white and a warm pinkish hue. The light wooden floor and chairs add to th impression of space, lightness and cleanliness. The two side altars are decorated with beautiful mosaics of Our lady and the Sacred Heart executed in a continental style. The main altar is enshrined by a dark wood baldequino with a large crucifix set on the wall beneath it. The church testifies to the dedication of the many people who have worked for its restoration.
Unfortunately however, the church's perennial financial difficulties have recently reappeared. Rita Fisher admits frankly that the "church is in a parlous state financially" as a result of decay to the church and the adjacent parish hall. The parish has to decide between repairing either the church or the parish hall, although both are in urgent need of attention. Not for the first time in St Patrick's history the parish has to find money to renovate the church and its amenities. "It is a matter of praying and waiting for divine guidance. We will just have to wait and see," remarks Rita Fisher.
Despite financial constraints, the church is an abundant, active centre for the local Catholic community. "It is a thriving parish with many youngsters. There is a good cross-section of family groups on a Sunday morning." The music of the 10.30 Mass is provided by an ensemble of young musicians with drums, guitars, keyboards and sometimes even a viola. "Many people are attracted by the music," Rita Fisher believes. There are also many extra-liturgical groups such as a St Vincent de Paul society, a Women's Luncheon Club and an Evergreens Group. A well-regarded drama
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hall.
High on the church's priorities is a "covenant with the poor" established last Pentecost Sunday. "It is intended for the immediate needs of the poor. They must come high up," explains Rita. Each church household has a plastic collection cup in which they put their donations, directly linking parishioners to the covenant commitment.
The parish is also involved in local ecumenical activities. Rita Fisher regards the Good Friday "procession of silent witness" through the town as the focus of ecumenical year. The march begins at St Patrick's and ends at the nearby Anglican church. It is a moving occasion that brings together the Christians of Woolton for a common witness to the faith.
Although the key note of St Patrick's history seems to be financial strain and hardship, this is only half the story. The other half is the will parishioners have shown in overcoming every obstacle in their path. One further illustration will suffice: when the present parish priest, Fr Christopher Jordan, who was away when I visited, first arrived at St Patrick's, the presbytery garden was unmanaged and overgrown. Through the time and dedication of half a dozen parishioners it is now a neat, attractive and colourful space. In the same way a flourishing community has risen out of the patch of land donated so many
years ago. Luke Coppen