Kentish Express Ashford & District
Worshippers join celebration of ‘new’ St Teresa’s
Catholic worshippers marked 25 years since the completion of the new church in Maidstone Road, Ashford, with a commemorative mass on Sunday.
The construction of the new church had been overseen by Father Tom Cooper, who was parish priest from 1988 to 2004.
The modern and spacious church was designed by Tom Holohan and Associates, and was consecrated by Bishop Michael Bowen on Sunday, April 29 1991.
In the 25 years since thousands of children have been baptised, received their first Holy Communion, and been confirmed in the Roman Catholic faith.
The period has also seen significant moments including the death of Pope John Paul II and the inauguration of Pope Benedict XV and Pope Francis.
Last year also marked the 500th anniversary of St Teresa of Avila, which was celebrated in the church and at St Teresa’s Primary School with a new mosaic.
Then last month Sister Dolores celebrated her diamond jubilee after 60 years of service to Christ and the parish as a nun.
The first parish priest was Father James Darrell from 1769 to 1775, who took on masses from his father John Darrell, who had rekindled Catholic faith with the first mass after in Ashford following the Protestant Reformation.
In the 19th century Father O’Toole began collecting funds for Ashford’s first Catholic Church which was designed by Edward Pugin, son of the famous Augustus Welby Pugin.
But the idea for a new church from parish priest Canon Ambrose Woods, who wrote: “After a century of excellent service, the old St Teresa’s, so loved by the parishioners, is now too small, even on normal Sundays.”
The current parish priests, Father Michael Lovell and Father Joe Feeley, welcomed past priests and worshippers for the mass and reception afterwards.