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History of our parish

Saint Robert's Parish - The early years

There was great joy when Canon Newsham announced to his Fenham parishioners that a permanent Mass centre, which would eventually become a new parish, would be established here. For a considerable time the Cathedral priests had said Mass at 9am each Sunday in Saint Aloysius' School, but that situation changed in 1930, when the parish of St. Robert of Newminster was founded under the administration of the Very Reverend Canon Newsham.

The church (what we use today as the church hall) was blessed and opened by Bishop Thorman in the summer of that year and, on 24 August 1930, Fr. George O'Neill arrived with all his possessions in the back of his old car, to take over as the first parish priest of St. Robert's. As there was no presbytery, Fr. O'Neill resided for a time with a parishioner, Mrs. Behn, and at the end of the year, moved into 33 Grange Road which became his temporary presbytery. In the following year, on June 22nd, work began on the present presbytery and it is interesting to note that this was regarded as an ideal blue-print for future presbyteries. Two parishioners, Mr. Howard and Mr. Gunning, were much involved in its planning and construction.

A month after his arrival, Fr. O'Neill began a collection for a new monstrance. His appeal met with an immediate and enthusiastic response. Fr. O'Neill wished it to be in the form of a Celtic cross and a parishioner, Mr. Pattinson, a silversmith, was responsible for its fashioning. This monstrance was blessed and used for the first time two years later. Other gifts in the first two years of its founding, were our Processional Crosses donated in memory of Superintendent McBirney, and the solid oak statue of Saint Robert from an anonymous donor. In March 1932, the chaplaincy of the General Hospital was transferred from the Cathedral priests to Saint Robert's, and to help Fr. O'Neill, the Bishop appointed Fr. John Kelly as his first curate. The first parish committee was formed the following year to promote social function, and in the summer of that same year, after an evening sermon by Fr. Wadsworth on Saint Robert and his work, there was the first Outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament - the latter a forerunner of successive years.

Building a new church

For 25 years, the present hall fulfilled the dual purpose of Church and hall. During these years tremendous efforts were geared to clearing the debt on the Hall and building up for the new church. Fr. O'Neill's efforts to raise money for the new church never diminished, even during the five years of war when all building was prohibited. His zeal and enthusiasm certainly inspired his parishioners to keep on making more and more effort so that building could begin when hostilities ceased and the aftermath of the war would make a return to normal life possible. After 25 years of pioneering, his sudden death in June 1950, meant that he was never to see his dream fulfilled.

When his successor, Fr. Joseph Leavy, was appointed as parish priest on 11 August 1950, the way was now clear to plan the new church. Building was completed in 1955 and the new church of Saint Robert of Newminster was blessed and opened by Bishop McCormack on 17 December of that year.

Saint Robert's up to present day

Just seven years later, in 1962, the debt had been completely cleared and preparations were set in hand for the consecration of the church. However, before that, the church was redecorated: alterations to the altar, involving the re-raising of the mensa on marble slabs were done, consecration crosses were inserted in the walls and new strip lighting was put up into the sanctuary and sacristy. Finally, on 18 June 1963, Bishop Cunningham consecrated the church.

After Fr. Leavy's death on 10 May 1965, Fr. James Hughes took over as Parish Priest, and in the years that followed his arrival the parish grew, maintaining the spirit of those pioneering days. Towards the end of 1968, a representative Parish Committee was formed to co-ordinate the various activities and to promote the community spirit in St. Robert's.

By this stage, various groups had been formed including branches of the Legion of Mary (founded in 1931), the St. Vincent de Paul Society (1932), and the Catholic Women’s League (1951), which are still active today. The Legion of Mary will forever be associated with Nellie and Mary Gaughan. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, they organised Patrician Meetings, undertook a census of the parish, visited the sick and conducted a rosary crusade. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, and its various conferences including the Deaf Club and the General Hospital Conference, has had a great influence in the parish alleviating hardship over the years. Also playing an significant role is the Catholic Women’s League, organising several events such as the Christmas and Summer Fayres, as well as doing important charity work in the parish. Formed recently in 2002, the Vaulting Ambition Theatre Company, is possibly the most exciting development in the last few years that occurred in this parish and undoubtedly a demonstration of how much talent and dedication which can be found in our young people. This is a peek preview of the Church of the Future!

During the 80’s and 90’s, when Fr. Michael Higginbottom was parish priest, St. Robert’s Parish was very much alive! Pantomimes written by Sheila Corbishley and Veronica Swales, were able to involve the whole of this parish, either on stage on a behind the scenes role. The St. Robert’s Pantomime Society presented Aladdin (1989), Cinderella (1990), Snow White and the 7 dwarves (1991), Goldilocks 2 (1992), Red Riding Hood (1993) and Carry on up the Beanstalk (1994).

Also, several pilgrimages were organised including a second one to Newminster in 1993 (the first one had been in 1974), a trip to York to mark John Paul’s visit to the UK in 1982, several visits to the Holy Land in 1982, 1987 and 1996 and finally a trip to the “little island on the edge of the ocean”, as the ninth abbot Adamnan called Iona, in 1998.

The gardens surrounding St. Robert’s are a vital part of our church, and over the years a team of dedicated gardeners has always managed to keep them on top condition. As a result of their hard work, St. Robert’s was presented with “Britain in Bloom” Cup for the best Church garden in the north of England in 1993 and the “Newcastle in Bloom” competition for the best church garden in 1995. Also in 1993, a flower and horticultural show was organised to host Gardener’s Question Time. More recently, in 2002, a Memorial Garden was established, with several trees planted in memory of loved ones that died.

Also a vital part of our parish and working closely with St. Robert’s, sisters from the Society of the Sacred Heart have always been involved in many and diverse aspects of life in this parish from preparing the children for their first Holy communion, to visiting the sick and house-bound in our community. The Society has been in Fenham since 1905, when the first Sacred Heart School opened and, in 1992, to celebrate 150 years of Sacred Heart education in England, a flower festival was organised at St. Robert’s.

Under the leadership of Fr. Michael Hickey, with us since 2004, several events have been held at S. Robert's, including several walks, social evenings usually accompanied by our very own extremely talented OCTAV band, and the Parish Mission with Fr. Johnny Doherty. Fr. Johnny is a redemptorist from Dublin, and after a 3-day parish mission last September has certainly left good friends amongst our ranks.

St. Robert’s is this year celebrating its 50^th anniversary. Since 1955, this church has been a place of worship and learning, where people gather together to listen to His word. We particularly remember all those that, since 1930 (when St. Robert’s became an independent parish), devoted their time and talent to encourage the growth of this community, and it is thanks to them that St. Robert’s parish is so alive today. The Church building is certainly a central gathering point, but is the people that make up this parish. This has become a very active and lively parish indeed!

Saint Robert's Parish Priests

Church address: Cedar Road, Fenham NE4 9PH    Phone: (0191) 273 3903

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