The opening of the church heralded the
Catholic community of today, and for
more than 100 years the faith has
pulsated and developed. Education is
about life and people. Thirteen years
after the opening of the schoolroom by
Fr Waterworth, who became
headmaster, the existence of a public
elementary school is mentioned. The
headmistress was a Miss E. Connelly and
the parish priest Fr E. W. Smith. It would
appear from this that there has been an
aided Catholic school since the 1870
Education Act.
In 1912 the school had a capacity for
98 pupils, Miss Mary Kenny being
headmistress. In 1916 a Miss Lancaster
was in charge and subsequent head
teachers were Miss Hession and Miss
Dunwell who retired in 1955.
Miss Dunwell was an outstanding
character. A Yorkshirewoman she was a
strict disciplinarian and her school was
run like clockwork. She only missed a day
and a half in 30 years. Courtesy and good manners were her watchword and the
good reputation of the school was widespread. On retirement she handed over to the
sisters, having provided a launching pad for the subsequent development of the
parish.
There was rapid growth in the 1950’s. Newcomers from Ireland and the north
presented a problem. The old school was totally inadequate for the demand and
extra accommodation was added through a room at the Presbytery and a hut. But
the ceiling of 161 children still fell short of demand.
The opening of the Convent School in 1954 helped to alleviate the problem. The
arrival of the nuns in Newark was an historic event and many non-Catholic parents
were eager to put their children in their care and the nuns exerted a strong influence
for good until their school closed in 1968. The nuns brought a new dimension in
Catholic life and with more school places available much of the pressure was taken
off Parliament Street. Mother Finbar, Mother Dolores and Mother Berchmin are
names to be remembered.
The Church of Our Lady of Victories in Southwell was opened about this time
and with the Holy Ghost fathers’ senior seminary at Upton flourishing, the
Catholicity of the parish was vibrant. The years of expansion are full of memories.
Who can forget the long line of children, infants tightly holding a rope, wending their
way over the Beaumond Cross to the Mount dining centre at midday. Imagine the
panic when the lights turned to red and the line still extended into the road.
Mother Magdalene and Mother Ethna were the first nuns in Holy Trinity. Mother
Oliver was headmistress from 1957 to 1967 and her gentle concern for parents and
children was a feature of this period. Mother Rose succeeded her until the opening
of the new Holy Trinity Primary School.
Priests’ housekeepers were an intimate part of Parliament Street. Canon
Farmer’s housekeeper, Miss Redfern, was affectionately known by the children as
"Mary Housekeeper." her cat "Tommy Farmer" was a great favourite. Miss Hilda
McGreavy was another popular character and Monsignor O’Dowd’s housekeeper,
Miss McArthy, was renowned for her generosity to the children.
The priests were regular visitors to the school and under the direction of Canon
Farmerand MgrO’DowdJ the curates were intimately connected with it.
Mgr O’Dowd came in 1962 on the death of Canon Farmer. Due to his single-
minded efforts and drive Cardinal Hinsley School was opened in 1965 and Holy
Trinity Primary School in 1969.
The latest development is the opening of the new All Saints Upper School
supported by Cardinal Hinsley as a middle school and Holy Trinity as a lower school.
This provides a Catholic education till the age of 18, the culmination of 100 years of
effort and sacrifice. We owe our predecessors in the faith a debt to continue in the
tradition they bequeathed to us.
P. J. McCANN
