Our Story
There has been a Catholic church dedicated to St Austin (St Augustine of Hippo) since 31st July 1791. A chapel stood on the land which had belonged to a house of Austin Friars founded by Ralph, baron Stafford in 1344, hence the names of the modern streets in the area- Austin Friars, Friars Road , Friars Terrace Friars walk, Middle Friars which preserve the memory of the friars.
In 1766 a fund was established for the support of a priest at Stafford by Mary, comtesse de Rohan-Chabot, the eldest daughter of William Stafford-Howard. The first of Stafford's regular priests was Thomas Barnaby. There is a tradition that he said Mass in the garret of a house on the Green. He died in 1783 and was followed in 1784 by John Corne. He built a chapel in the garden of a house he was renting in Tipping Street. In 1788 the Beringtons made a 99 year lease, at a rent of 16shillings of half an acre in Forebridge, part of a plot known as Middle Friars. There John Corne built a house for a priest and discreetly hidden behind it a small chapel, some 34 feet long and some 18 feet wide. It was dedicated to St Austin and on 31st July Joseph Berington, priest in charge of the mission at Oscott, preached to a crowded congregation.
The population of Stafford was growing due to the development of the footwear industry so it was no surprise that the 1791 chapel proved too small. In 1824 Sir George Jerningam was granted the title of Baron Stafford. His family seems to have had some influence in the appointment of priests at St Austin's. When John Corne left for Harvington in 1804 he was succeeded by James Appleton, who had previously been chaplain at the Jerningham's seat in Norfolk. It was about this time that the Jerningham's started to make a payment of £60 a year to the priest at St Austin's. In 1819 Edward Jerningham bought the site of the house and Chapel for £100. The Jerningham's enlarged the chapel in effect building a new one. Between September and December 1817 46,000 bricks were brought to the site from Rickerscote and Brocton. In 1822 an organ was built by Mr Smith of Stafford and under the patronage of Sir George and lady Jerningham. It was inaugurated on 29th October 1822 with a High Mass at which eight priests assisted the celebrant.
Numbers continued to grow. In 1857 Francis Amherst, the priest at St Austin's noted that on the first Sunday in May the church was crammed morning and evening. Over the next five years a succession of Priests raised over £2,850 and on 21st May 1861 the foundation stone was laid. The new church was opened on 16th July 1862 in the presence of the Bishop of Birmingham William Bernard Ullathorne.
It was designed in a Gothic style by E.W. Pugin, son of the renowned architect A.W.N.Pugin. Built of brick, it cost over £3,000, including £300 for stained glass, £250 for furnishings, and £200 for the organ by Hill and Son of London. The three windows in the sanctuary were designed by John Powell and executed by J. Hardman & Co. Of Birmingham. The high altar was designed by P.P Pugin , the younger brother of the architect of the Church. In 1894 the Sacred Heart Chapel was furnished and decorated to the memory of Michael O'Sullivan (Priest 1859-1865) again it was designed by P.P Pugin. A large pulpit was erected in memory of Cannon Edward Acton (priest at St Austin's 1873-80 and 1885-99) New confessionals were built in 1900 and soon afterwards the present sacristies were built. The church was consecrated on 26th July 1911 by Edward Ilsley, the first Archbishop of Birmingham and a native of Stafford. The stone crucifix on the lawn was erected in 1929. New windows with commemorative inscriptions were installed in the side aisles in the late 1940's. Fr Farrell built a parish hall to the south of the church in 1954 1962, the centenary year of the church; the bell turret was replaced by a tower and low steeple. In 1973 Father Cassidy had the sanctuary raised and a new altar installed. After St Austin's school had moved to St Joseph's convent most of the school buildings were demolished, including the body of the second church. Only the 1791 church survived but in a derelict state. Monsignor Brain organised its restoration and it was opened as the parish room in 1990. In 1991 Fr McGinley added a large crucifix made by Mark Delf of Uttoxeter.
In 1994 Fr Dunn inaugurated an extensive restoration of the church. The first phase began in June 1995 and consisted putting the fabric in good order. The second phase involving the redecoration of the interior was completed in January 1998. The aim was to produce a light and high vista. The false ceiling installed over the nave in 1973 was removed, and the trusses and joists revealed were picked out in colour. The 1958 canopy over the altar was also removed, and parts were placed over the vestibule and in one of the confessionals, which was converted into a piety stall. New lighting emphasised the arches along the Nave and over the aisles. The Sanctuary and the side chapels were picked out in different colours.
In December 2008 a new carpet was laid to complement the church.
In 1766 a fund was established for the support of a priest at Stafford by Mary, comtesse de Rohan-Chabot, the eldest daughter of William Stafford-Howard. The first of Stafford's regular priests was Thomas Barnaby. There is a tradition that he said Mass in the garret of a house on the Green. He died in 1783 and was followed in 1784 by John Corne. He built a chapel in the garden of a house he was renting in Tipping Street. In 1788 the Beringtons made a 99 year lease, at a rent of 16shillings of half an acre in Forebridge, part of a plot known as Middle Friars. There John Corne built a house for a priest and discreetly hidden behind it a small chapel, some 34 feet long and some 18 feet wide. It was dedicated to St Austin and on 31st July Joseph Berington, priest in charge of the mission at Oscott, preached to a crowded congregation.
The population of Stafford was growing due to the development of the footwear industry so it was no surprise that the 1791 chapel proved too small. In 1824 Sir George Jerningam was granted the title of Baron Stafford. His family seems to have had some influence in the appointment of priests at St Austin's. When John Corne left for Harvington in 1804 he was succeeded by James Appleton, who had previously been chaplain at the Jerningham's seat in Norfolk. It was about this time that the Jerningham's started to make a payment of £60 a year to the priest at St Austin's. In 1819 Edward Jerningham bought the site of the house and Chapel for £100. The Jerningham's enlarged the chapel in effect building a new one. Between September and December 1817 46,000 bricks were brought to the site from Rickerscote and Brocton. In 1822 an organ was built by Mr Smith of Stafford and under the patronage of Sir George and lady Jerningham. It was inaugurated on 29th October 1822 with a High Mass at which eight priests assisted the celebrant.
Numbers continued to grow. In 1857 Francis Amherst, the priest at St Austin's noted that on the first Sunday in May the church was crammed morning and evening. Over the next five years a succession of Priests raised over £2,850 and on 21st May 1861 the foundation stone was laid. The new church was opened on 16th July 1862 in the presence of the Bishop of Birmingham William Bernard Ullathorne.
It was designed in a Gothic style by E.W. Pugin, son of the renowned architect A.W.N.Pugin. Built of brick, it cost over £3,000, including £300 for stained glass, £250 for furnishings, and £200 for the organ by Hill and Son of London. The three windows in the sanctuary were designed by John Powell and executed by J. Hardman & Co. Of Birmingham. The high altar was designed by P.P Pugin , the younger brother of the architect of the Church. In 1894 the Sacred Heart Chapel was furnished and decorated to the memory of Michael O'Sullivan (Priest 1859-1865) again it was designed by P.P Pugin. A large pulpit was erected in memory of Cannon Edward Acton (priest at St Austin's 1873-80 and 1885-99) New confessionals were built in 1900 and soon afterwards the present sacristies were built. The church was consecrated on 26th July 1911 by Edward Ilsley, the first Archbishop of Birmingham and a native of Stafford. The stone crucifix on the lawn was erected in 1929. New windows with commemorative inscriptions were installed in the side aisles in the late 1940's. Fr Farrell built a parish hall to the south of the church in 1954 1962, the centenary year of the church; the bell turret was replaced by a tower and low steeple. In 1973 Father Cassidy had the sanctuary raised and a new altar installed. After St Austin's school had moved to St Joseph's convent most of the school buildings were demolished, including the body of the second church. Only the 1791 church survived but in a derelict state. Monsignor Brain organised its restoration and it was opened as the parish room in 1990. In 1991 Fr McGinley added a large crucifix made by Mark Delf of Uttoxeter.
In 1994 Fr Dunn inaugurated an extensive restoration of the church. The first phase began in June 1995 and consisted putting the fabric in good order. The second phase involving the redecoration of the interior was completed in January 1998. The aim was to produce a light and high vista. The false ceiling installed over the nave in 1973 was removed, and the trusses and joists revealed were picked out in colour. The 1958 canopy over the altar was also removed, and parts were placed over the vestibule and in one of the confessionals, which was converted into a piety stall. New lighting emphasised the arches along the Nave and over the aisles. The Sanctuary and the side chapels were picked out in different colours.
In December 2008 a new carpet was laid to complement the church.
