Previous history

The Catholic population grew to about a thousand by the end of the 70s but, due to the general decline in practice, such figures have become unreliable and the emphasis instead has been on the annual mass count. Sacred Heart has a large proportion of professional members.

A significant development affecting the parish was that of Cawston Grange, a large housing estate to the west, which is still growing.

Following the Second Vatican Council, there was at first some opposition to changes in the liturgy but, supported by a number of outside speakers, a lively interest was generated and a strong tradition of participation and singing grew up. In the 1980s, members of the parish were involved in a temporary reordering of the sanctuary, but in 1993 the reordering of the whole church was completed with an immersion font, a new Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a quiet room, a youth room and a library.

There was also a new narthex giving direct access to the hall extended in 1991. All this was made financially possible through an arrangement with the diocese involving the transfer of a plot of land in Clifton that had been bequeathed jointly to the parish along with Hillmorton. The church was dedicated by the Archbishop in April 1998.

A Garden of Remembrance was blessed at the side of the church and a number of parishioners are now able to scatter the ashes of their departed loved ones. From the early days, there was a strong move to found a Catholic primary school in Bilton but the application was rejected by the DES in 1973. Since the baptismal rate was falling in later years, the case was dropped. There was therefore a concern to provide religious education for children in the parish and with the help initially of sisters at St Marie’s and then of staff and students from St Paul’s, regular classes were arranged.

There have been a number of missions aimed at spiritual renewal: in 1973 led by Fr Tim Buckley (CSSR); in 1983 by CMS; in 2002 by CMS again. Meanwhile Fr Buckley returned to lead a parish retreat and others were led by Sr Sharon (PCJ) from Southam and Sr Madeleine Prendergast (LSU).

The parish council, established as long ago as 1969, has been responsible over the years for a strong emphasis on adult formation, ecumenism, justice and peace, and caring in the local community. It has also heard about UCM activities, organised social events and received reports on parish finances. In 1994 the parish project (part of the National RE Programme) was begun leading two years later to a day involving about a third of the parish. In this way future priorities were identified.

For six months up until February 2003, the parish managed without a resident priest with weekend masses provided among others by Canon Tom Farrell, Fr Michael Brandon and St Marie’s. From then, the Rosminians agreed with the diocese to provide a resident priest for five years.

From June 2003, the parish had a deacon, John Burrows, who played a full ministerial role. Since 1983 there has been a team of Eucharistic Ministers who regularly assist at mass, take communion to the sick and lead the Ministry of the Word and distribute communion when no priest is available.

Between 2003 and 2013, the parish was served by priests from the Rosminian Order. This arrangement ceased in July 2013 when the parish returned to the direct authority of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. This led to the appointment of Father Gerry Murray as parish priest in December 2013.

Book of Remembrance

On this page, relatives and friends are invited to pay tribute to parishioners who have died. Anniversaries can be listed, or tributes written with accompanying photographs. We would like to remember as many parishioners as we can. If you would like a relative’s name added to this list, please contact The Webmaster.

The Garden of Remembrance was dedicated at Sacred Heart Church in 2004. It is maintained by parishioners.

May the choirs of angels come to greet you,
May they speed you to paradise.
May the Lord enfold you in his mercy
May you find eternal life…

List of Remembrance
Please remember the following in your prayers:

January
1 – Agnes Margaret Mantann, aged 84 (b September 7 1921, d 2006)
1 – Johnnie MacKenzie (d2010)
1 – Michael Roger O’Callaghan (b February 6th 1948, d 2017)
16 – Anne Josephine Schiemann nee Borg-Caruana-Nicholls (b April 13th 1920, d 2017)
21 – Maureen Mason (d1988)
25 – John Loveridge (d2015)
31 – Ellie Stretton (2007)

February

10 – Sheila Mary Male (nee McCormick), latterly of Falstaff Drive, Rugby (b August 2 1929, d 2015).

19 – Father Alec Gavin, former parish priest of Sacred Heart (1998)

27 – Michael Joseph Dempsey (1934-2015)

28 – Janet Dore (2006)

March

4 – Eddie Keenan (d2015)

8 – Liz McGuckin (2016)

17 – Frank Joseph Bird (2006), aged 87, the father of Virginia Rudd.

20 – Michael Brennan (2006), aged 90, the father of Ann O’Callaghan.

April

2 – Pope John Paul II (2005)

6 – Kitty (Catherine) Nolan (2017)

24 – Frank Ollerenshaw (2018)

May
4 – Len Edwards (2006)
9 – Eileen Mary Carlton (2017)
10 – Sister Magdalen Halls (2013)
29 – Jean Batt (2005)

June
3 – Nora Roche (b February 4th 1935, d 2017)
8 – James Pickering (b June 9th 1927, d 2017)
10 – Ron Fortune (2005)
19 – Len Chamberlain, aged 89 (d 2001). Father of then Parish Priest, Father Paul Chamberlain. Buried at Oscott.

July
1 – James Irvine, BEM, aged 70 (b February 19, 1937, d 2007)
9 – Noeline Clare Thompson, aged 86 (b December 18 1918, d 2005)
10 – Vincent Arthur Priest, aged 78 (b September 10 1926, d 2005)
14 – Anna ‘Pauline’ Fitzpatrick (2017)
19 – Eileen Chamberlain, aged 87 (d 2001). Mother of then Parish Priest, Father Paul Chamberlain. Buried at Oscott.

August

19 – Vincent Theodore Faria, aged 66 (b April 5, 1940, d 2006)

23 – Patricia Arlette McGreevy, aged 97 (b October 28, 1919). Founder member of Sacred Heart Parish.

September

8 – Gerald FitzPatrick (2010), born June 18, 1928

10 – Father David Hutt (2006)

13 – Steve Rundle (2006)

19 – Maime Pritchard (2006)

22 – Les Mortimore (2015)

29 – Karen Irvine, aged 43 (2005)

October
1 – Deacon, the Rev Mr John Burrows, aged 73 (b March 31st 1941, d 2014)
2 – Eamon O’Meara (2010)
4 – Frank Kilroy, aged 87 (2005)
12 – Alan George Lawrence (2017)
13 – Colin Silver (St Mark’s Church, Bilton) (2008)
13 – Doreen Ronan (2013)

November

1 – Alfred Canale-Parola (2012), aged 93

3 – Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville (2007)

22 – Fergus Reynolds, aged 97 (2005)

22 – Susan Tarkanyi (2010)

29 – Rose Fisher (2015)

December

1 – Terence Edward de la Croix, aged 74 (b December 11, 1929, d 2004)

4 – Myra McNulty, aged 50 (2009)

12 – George Mumford, aged 65 (2005)

12 – Sheila Marriott (1993). Mother of Sharon, Fiona, Matthew and Paul Marriott.

18 – Christopher Cassin (b March 19, 1938, d 2018)

13 – Trudie White (2010)

21 – Kathleen Cassey (2006)

Our schools

Catholic education is thriving in the Rugby area. At primary level, there is a wide choice. St Marie’s Catholic Primary School is situated on two sites, either side of Dunchurch Road. The infant site is next to St Marie’s Church on the Dunchurch Road leading into town. Accessed just across the road is the junior site (which has its main vehicle entrance in Merttens Drive). The newly-amalgamated primary school comes into existence on September 1st 2011.

In Hillmorton, there is English Martyrs Catholic Primary School situated just off the main road through the village. In the village of Princethorpe, there is Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School in Leamington Road. Within a short distance of the school is Princethorpe College. This is a private Catholic high school with a sixth form. Rugby’s Catholic high school – Bishop Wulstan – which was situated in Dunchurch Road, has now closed.

Parish groups

There are many groups and activities taking part within Sacred Heart Parish. New members and volunteers are welcome. Call 01788-813263 if you would like to be involved.

Adult Education

Justice and Peace

The parish has long had a Justice & Peace Group. The main focus over the years has been the work of CAFOD with its recent campaigns on Food and now Climate Change. We are a Fairtraid Parish and are currently seeking to firm up a LiveSimply programme which in principle the parish committed itself to a few years ago. This brings together Simple living, Sustainability and Solidarity with the poor.

After an initial survey, the group has been sharing with the parish ‘Tips & Signposts’ each month. The group has increasingly picked up on the growing gap between rich and poor in this country and (through the work of Pax Christi) ways of promoting peace in a world with so much violence and injustice. We have attempted to involve other Bilton Churches and especially the other two Rugby Catholic Parishes. We would welcome new members from Sacred Heart. Brian Davies, 2015

Other groups

Union of Catholic Mothers

The UCM at Sacred Heart, Bilton has 32 members ranging in age from 64 through to 91. We meet on the last Wednesday of the month in the parish hall. We are one of the largest foundations in the Birmingham diocese and members support diocesan committees and events. Our regular meetings often include a visiting speaker and we try to balance the topics to include some that entertain but also some which educate and inform. Members most recently learned about the workings of the County Court and in particular the cases covered in the Family Court from a local magistrate. 2015