The Weymouth Mission

This story of Christian witness in Dorset is based on an account drawn up in 1991, using documents and photographs from the Parish archives, at the request of Fr Patrick Mulvaney, and Fr Joseph Phelan who were at that time  Parish Priests at St Augustine’s and St Joseph’s Churches respectively.

The account also includes a contribution from the late Gwen Greenslade OPL who researched the history of the Dominican Order in Weymouth.

The sculpture of The Martyrs at Dorchester by Dame Elisabeth Frink was erected in 1986 at the cross roads of Icen Way and South Walks, Dorchester. The three figures and the stainless steel plaque commemorate those who kept the Faith alive despite harsh laws, one of which made it High Treason for a Catholic Priest to be on English soil (1570). Locally, Blessed John Cornelius was taken prisoner at Chideock with three laymen and put to death in Dorchester in 1594. Also commemorated are the names of many other men and women, priests and laity executed at this spot including that of Saint Alexander Briant, executed at Tyburn in 1581.

At the foot of the plaque is a poem by Saint Robert Southwell executed at Tyburn in 1595.

By the reign of George III (1760-1820) Catholics began to be tolerated, as can be seen by the foundation of a mission in Weymouth in 1820, 9 years before the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. A French émigré priest, Abbé Simon had rooms at 63 St Mary Street in 1820:  "There is my lodging and my chapel".

Two months later the elderly Abbé Dubuisson took over the mission. The Abbé's congregation comprised 15 people from the town and 42 Catholics from the town's barracks near Radipole Terrace today. This congregation was swelled by the Catholic visitors to this fashionable spa town that George III had loved.

In 1822 Father McDonnel came to the Weymouth Mission. A year later he was followed by Bishop Baines, a persuasive orator and writer.  The Bishop began looking at possible sites for a permanent church.

When the Saxons broke through to Dorset in the 7th century they were mainly Christians, as St Augustine and friends had done their work well in the South East.

By the 13th century, Weymouth on the west bank of the harbour, and Melcombe Regis on the east side were fully fledged towns.

The Church at Radipole is said to be the oldest building in the Weymouth area and dates from about 1250. It was originally dedicated to St Mary, and served Melcombe Regis. All Saints Church at Wyke served Weymouth. The French had a nasty habit of raiding the towns when the inhabitants were away attending Mass at the two churches.

The Black Death came to England in 1348, and two priests at St Mary’s were two of the first to die of this plague.

By 1455 the church at Wyke needed a larger building.  A visit today to that church shows vandalism of the holy water stoops probably attributable to Henry VIII's time.

In 1605 a new St Mary’s Church was built in Weymouth in 1605. The Radipole Church was rededicated to St Ann at Radipole in 1927

The year 1418 saw the Dominicans, or Black Friars building a friary in Melcombe. This was on the initiative of Hugh Deverell, Knight and John Rogers of Bryanston with the support of the Master General of the Order. On 17th August, Pope Martin V gave the necessary leave for erecting a convent here with Church, Belfry, Churchyard and Cloister, and all things necessary for a religious house. The Friary was the last Dominican house established in England and was situated in Maiden Street. At the time  when it was built, the sea washed its eastern walls. The site is now further inland as a large area of the sea bed was reclaimed and built upon.

The Dominicans, besides catering for the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants also contributed to the defence of the town and the expansion of the port, by building a jetty and a tower. The jetty was also to serve the pilgrims embarking in Melcombe and Weymouth ships for the shrine of St James of Compostella in Spain. The Friary was closed in 1538 on the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII.

The remains of the Friary were thought to have been an old doorway, which remained standing until the site was cleared to form a car park in the 1960’s. It is still a car park today.

The Dorset County Records office holds the Deeds of the Friary Lands with a great seal attached. It is a very fragile document, in English and the seal is black with age. It is quite a thrill to be able to read the deeds and hold the seal, thus keeping in touch with the Friars after almost 600 years.

The Dominicans come to Melcombe and Weymouth

The Names of the Martyrs, and the years in which they were executed, died or sentenced are inscribed on the plaque at South Walks Dorchester. Alexander Briant and John Cornelius were Jesuits.

Of these, Fr Pilcher,  Fr Cornelius, Fr Green, William Pike, Thomas Bosgrave, John Carey, Patrick Salmon and — Morecock were hanged, drawn and quartered here; Fr Warmington was banished and John Jessop and Helen Tremain died in Dorchester gaol. The others commemorated on this plaque were executed at Tyburn or Salisbury. Alexander Briant was executed at Tyburn on 1 December 1581 alongside fellow Jesuit Edmund Campion. Eustace White followed them to Tyburn just over 10 years later on 10 December 1591. All were canonised by Paul VI in 1970.

Omnes Sancti Martyres, orate pro nobis!