A History of the Church of Saint Francis, Bournemouth
THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, CHARMINSTER HILL, BOURNEMOUTH
Originally written by the Reverend Oscar Shiner, first Vicar of the Parish, for the guidance of visitors to the Church, this has been revised several times.
Franciscan Prayer
Lord that I may seek to console rather than to be consoled; to understand, rather than to be understood; to love rather than to be loved. For it is in giving that we receive; in self-forgetfulness that we find our true selves, in forgiving that we are forgiven, in dying that we are raised up to life everlasting
St. Francis of Assisi
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
After the World War of 1914-18, Bournemouth became more and more popular, not only as a resort but also as a residential town. The rapid expansion of the Borough posed problems for the Church similar to those later being experienced in the "overspill" new towns. The Diocese of Winchester was faced with the task of building Churches and providing priests to minister to the ever-growing population of suburbia.
The congregation of St. Stephen's, Bournemouth, were well aware of the need, and what is more important, were prepared to do something about it. The Assistant Priest of St. Stephen's at that time was the Reverend Oscar Shiner. To him was entrusted the pleasant task of conveying to the Bishop of Winchester the news that one member of the congregation would give a large sum of money for the building of a new Church in the growing area to the north of the town. The donor wished to remain anonymous, but made five requests:-
(1) That the new Church should be dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
(2) That it should be a Parish and not a mission district.
(3) That the donor should hold the patronage of the living for life.
(4) That after the death of the donor the patronage should pass to the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield.
(5) That the full Catholic Faith should be taught.
To these requests the Bishop readily agreed, and the donor nominated Father Shiner to be the first Vicar.
September 1928 saw a small committee appointed under the Chairmanship of the Archdeacon of Winchester, the Venerable A. E. Daldy. At a public meeting in the Town Hall, Bournemouth, on Monday, October 8th, 1928, the new Rural Deanery of Bournemouth was inaugurated, and the Archdeacon informed the meeting of this generous gift. J. Harold Gibbons was appointed architect, and Messrs. Dove Brothers, builders.
The stone laying ceremony, performed by Father Edmund Seyzinger of the Community of the Resurrection, took place on Saturday, October 5th, 1929. Work continued throughout this and the next year.
All was ready for the consecration of the building by the Bishop of Winchester, Dr. Theodore Woods, on Saturday, October 4th, 1930. No day could have been more fitting than the Feast of St. Francis himself. It was a most impressive ceremony, but not allowed to pass without a demonstration of disapproval by members of the Protestant Truth Society, who appeared with placards bearing slogans against the Catholic Faith.
Since then the parish has grown tremendously. The Church Hall was completed in 1933 and the Vicarage in 1939. It later become known that the donor whose generosity had made the building of the church possible was Mrs Helen Reckitt, though her identity was not revealed until long after her death in 1931. A stone commemorating her gift is now set in the west wall of the church, near the font.
DESCRIPTION
We enter the Church from the path between the Vicarage and the Hall. Through the arch-way over the south porch we see the date of its consecration -1930. This is on a strip of lead, and at the left end of the strip is a dove, the sign mark of Dove Brothers, the builders. At the right hand end of the strip is a tailless monkey, a gibbon, the rebus of Harold Gibbons, the architect. The stone work over the main doors (carved by Mr. Fraser) and the hinges show the birds so often associated with St. Francis. On the right stone pier is the consecration cross.
Immediately inside the Church, on the left, is a carved stone holy water basin. Holy water is used by those entering the Church to remind them of their Baptism, when they were made members of Christ's Church.
THE HIGH ALTAR.
As in ancient Churches, the High Altar stands free from the east wall, under a canopy or ciborium. The Altar is made of Hopton wood stone, with Purbeck slab table top and a yellow Siena marble front. Two of the gilt candlesticks, originally placed on the altar and now used elsewhere in the church, were brought by the architect from the battlefield of the Marne in the first World War. He had them repaired, and designed the rest to correspond with them. One candlestick was paid for by the Communion offering found under the pillow of A.A. who had just died, and another is in memory of P.L.J. The rest were paid for out of presentation money given to Father Shiner, the first Vicar, when he left St. Stephen's, Bournemouth. The figure on the crucifix came from the battlefield of the Somme, and was presented by E.E.
The ciborium is in wood. Notice the open mouths of the birds singing the praises of God. The ciborium has never been completed in colouring, and still has only an undercoat of paint on it.
THE NAVE.
The chairs that we see as we go westwards down the nave bear inscription plates indicating that each one has been given as a memorial. One reads "From a grateful little boy." Most bear the initials of some departed soul and the prayer R.I.P. The Churchwardens' staves were given by them for the consecration of the Church in 1930. One has the figure of St. Francis, and the other a mitre, surmounting them. Each Warden's desk bears the arms of Assisi. The naked arm signifies that St. Francis gave up everything to follow Christ: the arm crossing it with the sleeve of the habit denotes that he was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor (the Franciscans).
The Stations of the Cross will be seen on the pillars down the nave. These were set up at the end of 1961 to replace the original pictures which have been sent out to British Honduras. The present set was purchased by members of the congregation as memorials.
THE WEST END.
The Baptistery contains the most ancient object in the Church, the Norman Font. It was thrown out of a Church in South Wales when it was being "restored," and served as a pump trough in the outer kitchen of a farm house. In a niche behind the Font is a statuette of St. Joseph and the Holy Child Jesus, given to the Church by Lady Peel. The copper ewer (to contain the water for the Font at Baptisms) bears the inscription, "A mother's thankoffering." The Choir Gallery stands over the Baptistery. This again is a return to ancient practice, so that the choir does not obscure the Sanctuary. The present organ was bought from a church near Slough and was paid for by an unexpected legacy.
THE LADY CHAPEL.
This chapel contains a large Calvary and on the nearby window ledge an Oberammergau carving of Our Lord in Gethsemane. The altar rails in this Chapel were put in after the Church was consecrated, and are similar to those in the lower Church of St. Francis in Assisi. The altar is also a replacement of the original wooden table. The picture to the right of the Altar is a fine copy of Murillo's, Our Lady Immaculate, while among the ornaments not generally on view, but which belongs to this Chapel, is an Ikon from Russia presented by E.R.J. This Ikon is probably two hundred years old, and its history conjectural.
The large carved oak priest's prayer desk is by Mr. Bowers of Bournemouth who also made the Wardens' staves and desks. It also bears "Pax et Bonum" - "Peace and Goodwill" - the Franciscan arms.
Note the electric light shades, especially those with the initial "M" for Mary, over the sanctuary.
THE STATUES.
Between the Lady Chapel and the Blessed Sacrament, or Eastern Chapel is one of the Confessionals. Just beyond this is the beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was carved in the Tyrol by an Italian, and obtained a gold medal at Bolzano. The Statue was given in memory of a nurse whose work was mostly for mothers and babies at St. Matthew's, Westminster.
The statue of St. Francis on the other side, is the work of A. G. Walker, R.A. The statue of St. Francis outside the Church on the west front, is also by the same artist. The canopies over both statues were designed by the architect, Harold Gibbons.
THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL. (The Chapel of the Holy Name).
Ever since the consecration of the Church, the Blessed Sacrament has been reserved in this chapel. It is the highest point in the Church. The altar is not unlike that in Assisi itself, built on the site of St. Francis' tomb in the crypt chapel. The Holy Oils for anointing are also reserved in this chapel, in a cupboard or aumbry in the north wall.
The impressive Crucifix, Our Lord in Glory on His Throne of the Cross, attended by His Mother and St. John as also by St. Francis and St. Clare, is the work of Miss Nina Somerset. She also painted the angels on the lampshades in this chapel. She was a member of the congregation.
The roof of the chapel is worth notice. It has monograms of Our Lord and His Mother. These were used in Missions in Italy by St. Bernadine of Siena, who furthered devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.
Almost all the furnishings are gifts from parishioners who love the church. This includes not only the usual furnishing, but such things as book rests, the tower to repair lamps and clean the ceilings, and the kneelers which are used.
The family of St. Francis in this parish is closely knit in prayer, and these gifts remind us constantly of our obligations to the departed members. We pray that they will be granted refreshment, light and joy in the Presence of Our Lord.
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Our Patron Saint was born at Assisi (Italy) in 1182 and was christened Giovanni in the Cathedral. His father, returning from successful trading in France, called the baby "Francesco" (Frenchy). As a lad Francis led a fairly self undulgent life. During a skirmish between Perugia and Assisi, Francis, aged 24, was captured. A year's imprisonment turned his thoughts to the religious life. He began to tend lepers and gave all he had to the poor. Whilst praying in the Church of St. Damian, near Assisi, a voice bade him "Rebuild my Church." Later, in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels ("The Little Portion") on St. Matthias' Day, he heard the command of the Holy Gospel. "Freely ye have received, freely give ..." to be meant especially for him and sent him forth as the bridegroom of Poverty. After being confined by his father as insane, beaten by robbers and ridiculed by his former companions, Francis was joined by influential citizens who became the first "little brethren." With them he retreated to Mount Subasio, two miles from Assisi where they lived and prayed in caves. In 1210 he obtained verbal approval for his Order founded on a rule of poverty, chastity and obedience. Francis preached in Italy and Morocco. In Egypt (1219) the Sultan received him kindly.
The Franciscan Rule was given written sanction in1221. Three years later Francis retired to Mount La Verna. There on September 14th, 1224, he had a vision of a Seraph bearing the Crucified and found in his own body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Concealing these wounds in hands and feet and side from all but a few witnesses, Francis returned to Assisi and died just outside the Church of the Portiuncula in 1226, on October 4th, which day is annually observed as his festival. All know of his love for beasts and birds who were also his "little brethren." Like him, let us seek and find our Blessed Lord in His Sacraments, and so obtain strength to minister to Him in the sick and needy in soul and body; and by "love serve one another."
O Lord Jesu Christ, who, when the world was waxing cold, didst renew the Marks of thy passion in the flesh of blessed Francis, to inflame our hearts with the fire of thy love: Mercifully grant; that by his merits and prayers we may continually bear the cross, and may bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
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