St. Brendan

History

An earlier church stood on the site and remained in use for over a century, altered on several occasions during that time. A bell tower was added in 1916 at a cost of £114, and the bell was rung by hand three times a day to announce the Angelus until the tower was removed in the 1970s. By then the old church had fallen into disrepair, and it was also unsuited to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, so the parish priest launched a campaign to replace it.

Parishioners raised £80,000 through planned giving, cake sales, bingo and other events, and individuals and groups donated seats, shrines and vestments to fit out the replacement. The present church was dedicated to St Brendan in July 1974. As much of the old church as possible was preserved, and it was later converted into a parish centre.