History
For
many years Catholics who lived in and around Totteridge and Terriers
had travelled, mainly on foot, to St. Augustine's Church, near the station.
By the 1960s, however, a Mass centre had become a necessity and permission
was obtained to celebrate Sunday Mass in the Social Club in Totteridge
Drive.
St.
Augustine's clergy served the centre and a close-knit community developed,
made up of local families who walked to Mass. An annual fete was held
in the adjoining field and the community spirit blossomed.
When
the first church was being built in 1969, parishioners were invited
to suggest a suitable saint's name for the church. Fr. Griffiths, then
parish priest at St. Augustine's, favoured St. Wulstan as this saint
had visited High Wycombe in the eleventh century to consecrate All Saints'
Church in the town. At a vote St. Wulstan won the day in spite of considerable
support for St. Martin.
The
first St. Wulstan's Church, consecrated by Bishop Charles Grant on 30th
April 1970, was designed in the interests of economy. A factory framework
was given a block-work skin left unplastered, a concrete slab floor,
industrial roof lighting and a ceiling of natural boarding. Sacristies
at the south end were beneath the parish room, which doubled as a "crying"
room. Total cost of building and furnishings was around £33,000. The
first electricity bill was £90, a lot of money in those days. The parish
continued to be served by clergy from St. Augustine's until 1978 when
the presbytery was completed.
Fr.
Bosco Clarke moved in from St. Augustine's to become the first resident
priest. Monsignor John Ryan succeeded him in 1984 and was followed by
Fr. John Bierne in 1989. Fr. Stephen McGuinness came in 1996 and Fr
Stanislaw Maciuszek arrived in January 2006. Our current priest Father
Innocent Abonyi MSP arrived in September 2009.
By
the late 1980's serious cracks had appeared in the walls of the church
and it was essential to shore them up with scaffolding both inside and
out. Although many parishioners wished to keep the original church,
it was decided to build a new one to accommodate one hundred and fifty
people.
This
was linked to the existing presbytery and so positioned that a portion
of the site could be sold. This area now houses a medical practice with
car park.
On
Sunday, 20th January 1991, the final Masses in the old church were celebrated
and in the afternoon a party was held, attended by Bishop Leo and many
clergy and people. The scaffolding was decorated with balloons and coloured
lights. Refreshments were provided in abundance and there were competitions
and raffles.
During
the rebuilding, Sunday Masses were celebrated in Kingswood Middle School
and week-day Masses in a beautiful chapel in St. Andrew's Church, Hatters'
Lane at 8.00 a.m. Father John, meanwhile, lived in a caravan on the
site.
The
new building was designed in shape and materials to blend in with the
local environment, and it was to be light and airy. The original stained
glass window, designed by Mr. Izamis, was relocated in the baptistery
of the new church. St. Wulstan's statue, by Michael Mahoney, which used
to be on the outside of the old building, was refurbished and prominently
placed in the nave of the new church. The original wooden bench seating
was adapted for re-use and, to reflect the importance of the furniture
industry in this area, wood was chosen as the material for the altar,
lectern, credence table and chairs, as well as for the furniture in
the narthex. The original Stations of the Cross were repainted.
On
November 9th, 1991 the parish community of St. Wulstan's returned from
exile for the blessing and dedication of the new church. As Bishop Leo
reached the sanctuary, carpeted in warm rose pink, the dimmed lights
were turned up and the church was drenched in colour and light. The
Bucks Free Press reporter wrote, "The feeling is of simplicity
without starkness, tradition without fuss and most of all, a real warmth
of atmosphere." On that opening night two hundred and fifty people
were accommodated without discomfort. Some local residents who had initially
campaigned against planning permission for a new church, were united
in their admiration for the attractive building which blends into and
complements the local landscape.
This
lovely church will serve the local Catholic community for many years
to come.
Pat Taylor
January 1998
