Our Lady of Lourdes,Newent

A Community of worship, love and service

Church History

The Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent and Blaisdon came into existence in 1935 when the Salesians of Don Bosco set up a school for disadvantaged children in Blaisdon Hall.

For almost 60 years Blaisdon became a second and much-loved "home-from-home" for hundreds of young lads from the inner cities of London, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield and even as far afield as Glasgow.

The priests of the Community began saying Mass in Cinderford and Newent in Public Houses, private houses and eventually, in the Market House in Newent. During the war the numbers in Newent were boosted by POWs from Italy and Germany.

The parish thrived under Fr Bill Boyd SDB and by 1955 plans were afoot to build a church in Newent. Richard and Greta Ovington along with Mrs Chris Robinson were leading lights in fund-raising for the new building. Most of the work was done by voluntary workers. The Catholic community has never forgotten the financial support so cheerfully given by many from various Christian denominations.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was finally opened in 1960.

We celebrated our Golden Jubilee on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11th Feb 2010, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Declan and a blessing of the new sanctuary

We also published a short history of the parish which included a look into the development of Catholicism in the Forest of Dean and the struggle to survive after the 'reformation'. Copies of the booklet "More Precious than Gold" are still available.

For information about Don Bosco click HERE

For information on The Story of Lourdes click HERE.

Office Address:

"Drumlanrig",

Ross Road,

Newent,

Gloucestershire,

GL18 1BG