SCHOOL CAME BEFORE CHURCH

NOW CHURCH KEEPS JUBILEE Dr. Downey at Celebrations
From Our Own Correspondent The golden jubilee of the Chureli of St. Sylvester, Liverpool, was eommemurated on Sunday last, when solemn High Mass was celefirmed cora»t archiepiscipo by the parish priest, the Very Rev. Thomas J. Rigby, V.F.
Pontifical Benediction wale given by Dr. Downey in the afternoon, and the special sermon was preached by the Rev. Bernard Patten, D.D., L.S.S.,
Addressing a crowded congregation, Dr. Downey said that the occasion was a red letter day for the parishioners of the Church of St. Sylvester, a day when they might well ring joyous peals in the belfry of their hearts, for they were met together to celebrate the golden jubilee of a beautiful church.
They all wished that the celebrations could have taken place under happier circumstances, but unfortunately war had been forced upon the country.
"We do not know how long it will last," said .Dr. Downey, " or what perils we will have to face, but there is'one thing we do know and that is that we shall always have the consolation of our religion."
SCHOOL CAME FIRST Referring to the history of the parish, the Archbishop said that it dated back to 1870, the year in which elementary education became compulsory, and in this St. Sylvester's was a pioneer because a school was in being before anything else.
Fier years later a wooden hut was erected as a temporary church and this stood for fourteen years, when IRS3 the permanent ehureh was built by the Rev. Joseph Rigby The beautiful altars and rails were installed by the Rev. John Swarbrick and the stained glass windows were added by the present parish priest, Dean Rigby.
Dr. Downey concluded his address by thanking the parishioners for the way in which they subscribed to the Ecclesiastical Education Fund and the building of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
" For a parish that is not overendowed with this world's goods your efforts have been particularly outstanding," he said,