The Weymouth Mission (continued)

Meanwhile plans had been made to build a school in the grounds at the back of the presbytery at Dorchester Road. It was built in 1870, and only one wall remains today of the little school. The wall is now incorporated into the Church Hall. The school functioned until 1891 when it closed for a few years, only to be re-opened in a building at Carlton Road with 15 pupils.

 

Canon O'Brien came as Parish Priest in 1893. While he was in charge the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary came to the town. They acquired a villa in Carlton Road and opened a High School. In 1899 the Canon died and was succeeded by Father David Barry.

Father Barry enlarged the Church by converting the Presbytery into the Sanctuary and buying 38 Dorchester Road as a Presbytery in its place.  A new frontage was added to the Church replacing the simpler outlines of the twin columned front surmounted by a pediment. On 28th May  1901, Father Barry rented the Temperance Hall in Park Street as a school for 36 children. A year later, the school was transferred to Queen St where nuns from Carlton St taught the children in cramped premises.   Father Barry wanted a new school, and what Father Barry wanted he usually got!   In this case however he had a fight on his hands.

 

On 2nd November  1901, Mr McMahon's workrooms and building yard were bought. The site was not available for building until September 1903. The Education Act of 1902 afforded relief to denominational schools and Father Barry sought State Aid to which he was entitled for his proposed school. The Weymouth Educational Authority, however, opposed the school as being "neither necessary nor desirable".

 

A copy of a similar resolution passed by the Managers of St John's Day School in the Park District was forwarded to Father Barry. In his words "the resolutions were nothing less than a declaration of war".

 

The Southern Times newspaper ran an article: "The proposal to build a new Roman Catholic School – with its possible addition of expense to the ratepayers-bids fair to revive the dying embers of sectarian bitterness".

 

The battle was joined when the Free Churches opposed the school. The Board of Education at Whitehall set up a Public Enquiry, held on 31st May 1904. On the 10th June Mr Simpkinson submitted his report as Inspector and he supported the Roman Catholic School. Father Barry and the parents had won!

 

To add insult to injury, the Local Education was required to foot the bill for the Enquiry.   The school was opened on Sunday 4th October at Walpole Street to house 70 pupils.   The parish must have been sad to see Father Barry leave the Parish in 1911.

Father Sheehan followed him. He started the Catholic Men's Society whose headquarters became the little School House at the back of the church. The Catholic Men's Society enlarged the Hall at their own expense after the 1914-18 war.  During this war the priest had to cater to the military camps at Littlemoor and Westham, as well as his parish. The Carlton Road Convent was used as a military hospital during this time.