LOCAL CHURCH HISTORY

The Following Extract is Taken from The Centenary Booklet

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AND THE VISIT OF THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE

14 -16 SEPTEMBER 1968

During a weekend blessed with brilliant sunshine the Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, Archbishop Eugene Cardinale, joined in the celebrations arranged by parishioners of St. Begh's in connection with the centenary of the church. The honour paid was appreciated not only by the Parish, but by many Protestant clergy and church workers whose support and goodwill made a considerable impact on the Archbishop.

It was the first time for 100 years that a person of such high rank in the Roman Catholic Church has been in Whitehaven and everywhere he went the Archbishop was given an ovation, none more enthusiastic than by the crowd who watched his arrival at Whitehaven Town Hall on Saturday evening for a civic reception.

Surrounding the red carpet forecourt of the Town Hall were hundreds of cheering people and children waving papal emblems as the official party arrived to be greeted by the Mayor (Councillor Henry Smith) and Mayoress (his sister, Mrs. Towers), who were accompanied by the Town Clerk and his wife.

The vicar of St. James', the Rev. C.G. Sheward. The Lord Lieut. of Cumberland , Mr. J.C. Wade, O.B.E., J.P., and the Clerk to the Lieutenancy, Mr. G. N. C. Swift were also in attendance. The Archbishop was accompanied by the Bishop of Lancaster and the Bishop of Sinda, together with the Abbot of Belmont, the parish priest, Dom Vincent Fogarty and other clergy. Inside the Town Hall Archbishop Cardinale was introduced to Alderman and Councillors and their wives, church officials, and members of the St. Begh's Church Centenary Committee.

Mr. Joseph Symonds, M.P. for Whitehaven Division, himself a Catholic, and Mr. J.D. Miller, chairman of the Magistrates, were among those presented.

Welcoming the Archbishop, the Mayor said he hoped his visit would be a happy one. It was a historic occasion and one, which would long be remembered, in particular by the parishioners of St. Begh's. He presented his guest with a leather-bound copy of Mr. Daniel Hay's "History of Whitehaven". Returning thanks the Archbishop said, "He had, spent much time reading up as much as he could about Whitehaven and district in order that he could fully appreciate the country he was going to see and the people he was going to meet". The Archbishop continued: "I am deeply moved by the way in which I have been received here and I am extremely grateful. I realise this honour goes beyond my humble person to the Pope himself, whom I have the great honour to represent. If the Holy Father had come personally you can hardly have given him a warmer and more sincere reception," he added. Archbishop Cardinale said the thoughts of the Holy Father were very often directed to this country, for he took a deep personal interest in everything which happened here. Within minutes of his arrival at St. Begh's Presbytery on Saturday Archbishop Cardinale had been afforded an official welcome to the county by the Lord Lieutenant, who wore full- dress uniform. On Sunday morning the Archbishop paid a private visit to the Priory of St. Bega, at St. Bees. "I was very glad indeed to receive him", said the Vicar, Rev. B.H.C. Wilson. "He was tremendously interested in the older parts of the Priory Church and was well versed in its history. He saw the remains of St. Bega Chapel and a pre-Norman cross in the Churchyard and the visit concluded with us saying prayers together in the Chapel". "I regarded the journey as a pilgrimage, said the Archbishop and I derived great pleasure from it".

Archbishop Cardinals impressed local Anglican and Free Church clergy (several of whom were accompanied by their wives) profoundly when he expressed hopes for stronger interdenominational bonds at a private reception, which he had arranged for them at St. Begh's Presbytery on Sunday.

Protestant clergy, on their part, held reciprocal views, and afterwards the Rev. E.R. Chapman, Rural Dean, said: "It was a most happy occasion and must have convinced everybody there that the bonds of friendship between the various churches in this district are much stronger then generally realised".

Archbishop Cardinals said that one of the happiest memories he would take away from his Whitehaven visit was the friendliness of the people. "Not only in my own Church but everybody I have met without exception, and this I regard as a splendid omen for relationships in the future," he stressed. A 12-hour almost non-stop series of engagements for the Archbishop and his retinue on Sunday included a Concelebrated Pontifical High Mass at St. Begh's Church, which was packed to capacity.

The Triumphal Entry - Sacerdos et Pontifex - sung by the choir was composed by the organist and choir mistress, Miss Patricia Fitzsimons, who also composed the Angus Dei. The music of the mass was composed by Dom Brendan Minney, O.S.B. of Harrington, a former parish priest. 

In the afternoon His Excellency addressed a rally in the Gaiety Cinema, Whitehaven.

1,150 tickets had been issued for the event and so heavy had been the demand that the building - the largest in the town - could have been filled two or three times over. The official address of welcome was delivered by the Very Rev. Dom Sigebert D'Arcy, V.F., O.S.B., Dean of West Cumberland, and seconded by Councillor Mrs. F.M. Poland, Moor Row. There were presentations of mass scrolls by parish priests and lay delegates.

The Rt. Rev. B. Pearson, Bishop of Sinda, presided. The Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor were at St. Begh's Presbytery on Monday morning to present their compliments when Archbishop Cardinale left to return to London .

When the Lord Lieutenant Mr. J.C. Wade, and the Mayor, Coun. H. Smith, bade farewell to Archbishop Cardinale he had a surprise gift for them. On behalf of the Pope he presented each with the Papal Bronze Medal, which is awarded to those who make an outstanding contribution to Christian goodwill.

Social activities formed an important part of the Archbishop's programme and wherever he attended he impressed everyone by his open charm and friendliness. The Empress Ballroom was packed on Saturday night when he arrived with his entourage for an informal visit to the special Centenary Ball, and his entry was the signal for revellers to break off their jollifications and greet him with a deafening chorus of "For he's a jolly good fellow". Archbishop Cardinale, who was obviously touched by the warmth of his reception, insisted that there should be no formality and for some time moved about from group to group chatting happily. The Rt. Rev. Dom Robert Richardson, Abbot of Belmont, was host at a dinner party in the Globe Hotel on Sunday night when the Archbishop, a commanding and well informed speaker, congratulated all concerned on the great spirit of co-operation which existed in Whitehaven between the clergy and, further, the clergy and local authority. From the formal he proceeded to the informal with a visit to the C.Y.M.S. and K.S.C. social clubs in the town, on each occasion thanking the members for their many contributions to the church, which were much appreciated by their clergy.

And so ended this memorable milestone in the life and history of St. Begh's Church and Whitehaven Mission. As we look back with gratitude and pride we look forward with hope and confidence.

 "Deo Gratias".

The following information has been taken from the booklet produced for the 125^th Anniversary Celebrations of St. Begh's Priory Church in 1993.  Please click on the link to read more

The building of St Begh's

The Consecration of the Church

Probable origin of the name of Whitehaven and other facts