Our Lady of Ransom History

There are two histories of Our Lady of Ransom Church. The Story of Our Lady of Ransom, Eastbourne, by Rev L. E. Whatmore was written in 1977. It is now out of print. Joan Kennedy's centenary history published in 2001 Our Lady of Ransom, in Gratitude and Hope is available from the repository of each of our churches for 5 Pounds.

St Agnus Church History

There is a History of St Agnes Parish by Pauline Crunden available from all our repositories.

Fr Paul Lynch, Parish Priest of Eastbourne identified the need for a church at the east end of Eastbourne in 1902 and it became a reality in Easter 1906, through the generous donation by Miss Agnes Zimmermann. The birth of St Agnes Church was heralded in the Eastbourne Chronicle Saturday 1 September 1906, "an anonymous friend has supplied the necessary funds ??. the church would be of red brick and would comprise a nave, north and south aisles and two side chapels. Seating would be for 350 people. Lighting would be by electricity". The foundation stone containing "several coins and documents" was laid by Rt. Rev Dr Amigo Bishop of Southwark, on Friday 28 September 1906, the first Mass celebrated on 6 March 1907. St Agnes church was consecrated by Bishop Amigo on 28 th September 1909 at 09.30hrs "with all the solemn ritual and ceremony of Catholic worship?... At 12 o'clock, Mass was said by Father Nevill and the ceremony lasted about three hours". The priests who were present included Fr Joseph Douche, newly ordained from St Agnes' community. Miss Agnes Zimmermann "the kind donor of the Church" also attended.

Furnishing the church: Two photographs exist which though undated were possibly taken during the early days after St Agnes Church was opened. The two side altars were to "The Sacred Heart", placed where the choir now sits, and to "Our Lady", where the door into the hall is now situated. Both Altars were white with gilt decoration embossed on them and were often used by priests on holiday, saying their daily Mass, whilst the main altar was simultaneously being used. A record of required furnishings for the opening of the Church included pews for 200 (150 less than printed in the local paper), the main altar and communion rails ? now marked by wooden plaques. The original rise and fall sanctuary lamp was donated by Miss Agnes Zimmermann, and the baptismal font donated by Councillor and Mrs. Killick (the font was rescued from the back garden of the church, and restored in 2000). The confessional has been a roving facility: from the sacristy, to a porch at the back of the Church, to the sacristy and now the joint purpose conference, confessional room and fire exit.

Prior to the opening of the Church, Sunday Mass had been said in one of the classrooms of St. Joseph 's School next door, but the new Church did not immediately bring forth an increase of services. Following a visit in 1914, Bishop Amigo suggested that more services should be held in St. Agnes, and towards the end of that decade three weekday Masses were added to the one Sunday Mass. Holy week services were not celebrated in the church until 1930 and permission to have Midnight Mass at Christmas was given in 1931. By the 1940s, if not before, funerals and baptisms were conducted in the church and St Joseph 's School Children made their first confessions and first Holy Communions in St. Agnes.

The question of St Agnes becoming a separate parish was noted in 1917 and 1935 but the final separation came much later, in 1957, when Fr Hugh Donaghey was appointed priest in charge of "the Mission ". He was finally inducted as Parish Priest on 3 June 1964. Initially he lodged with the Sisters at Esperance Nursing Home until No 6 Whitley Rd was purchased for use as a presbytery. This was later extended into No 4. Whitley Road and Miss Jenny Doherty looked after Fr Donaghey and the progression of assistant priests who blessed the parish. With the coming of Fr Donaghey, the first wedding was able to take place in St Agnes in August 1958, and in November the same year, the Sacrament of Confirmation was also celebrated for the first time.

When Bishop Cyril Cowderoy visited the parish on 4 November 1958 he discussed   with Fr Donaghey the need to build a church for the people at Langney. In July 1959 the arrival of Fr Peter Clements, the first assistant priest, made it possible to open Mass Centres at Langney Village Hall (5 July 1959) and Red Cross Hall, Pevensey Bay (12 July 1959).   On Sunday 30 June 1963, the church of The Holy Rood opened in Pevensey Bay and Christ the King, Langney opened 5 November 1967. It was because of the need to build churches at Pevensey Bay and Langney, that some delay took place in the alterations to the Sancuary and new High Altar. . The new High Altar was consecrated during Pontifical High Mass on 18 May 1971 and the picture of Theodor Hammacher's Martyrdom of St Agnes, now adorning the Sanctuary, restored and hung prior to the Bishop's visit. [The picture was presented to the Church by Mrs. Terry Padgett, who had come into possession of it when her sister's convent closed].

Prior to independence from Our Lady of Ransom St. Agnes usually had one particular assistant priest to serve the community. Fr Scarborough and Fr Jeremy O'Leary, Fr John Proctor and Fr. Edward Jones all still remembered. With the formation of a new parish came the kindness and enthusiasm of further Parish Priests and assistant Priests.

In 1963 there was great joy when Fr Ralph Message was ordained in St Agnes Church and later priestly vocations from the Parish included   Fr Michael Sewell, Fr Michael Walsh and Fr Barry Anderson.

In 1977 the parish was blessed with the arrival of the congregation of Our Lady of the Missions, who established a small community at No 66 Whitley Road, further service to needs of parishioners of all ages was facilitated and we are continually blessed with their presence today.

Further development at the Langney & Pevensey areas of the Parish necessitated the establishment of the new parish of Christ the King in 1989, leaving St Agnes Parish with its one church and own community, In 1999, with fewer priests but still a good attendance at Masses, Bishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor withdrew our Parish Priest but sanctioned the continued use of St Agnes for Mass and other services; support for these coming from the priests of Our Lady of Ransom. The St Joseph 's club building was returned to the Diocese and the proceeds of the sale from the presbytery went towards the building of the parish hall adjacent to the Church.