There were Catholics in and around Bridgwater before the present St Joseph's Church was built in 1881, but where did they go to mass and receive the sacraments? After the Reformation Catholics could not build churches or schools until the second Relief Act was passed in 1791. During penal times the Catholic faith was kept alive mainly by a few important families who at great expense and sometimes considerable personal suffering refused to go along with the majority of Englishmen into the Church of England. One such family was the Cliffords of Chudleigh in Devon who owned property at Cannington. When Lord Clifford allowed his house in Cannington to be used as a convent for Benedictine nuns in 1807 there were only five Catholic missions in Somerset for the public celebration of mass. The convent chapel was eventually declared "Cannington Misssion of the Holy Name" in June 1831 with William O'Meara as priest-in-charge. From that mission the mass returned to Bridgwater for the first time since the Reformation in June 1845 when Jacob Illingworth began a weekly celebration for a group of Catholics in a private house in the town. On 14th February 1846 a new building in Gordon Terrace near Cranleigh Gardens was opened with a high mass to serve as church and school. This mission church was served from Cannington until 5th June 1852 when Thomas Rooker was appointed first resident priest. After 36 years the attendance at this little chapel had reached 200 including schoolchildren and it became necessary to build a new church.

The old Catholic church in Gordon Terrace near Cranleigh Gardens.
This little church was dedicated to St Joseph of Aramathea.
The building was pulled down in 1999.

1882 Bishop came today (22nd June) to open our new church on the west bank of the River Parrett. It is a more dignified building than our little, old chapel near Cranleigh Gardens, which was much too small to hold our present congregation. Father Scoles, our rector and church architect, must be a proud man today. We are all very grateful to old Mr Hewett, who provided most of the money. Most of us at St Joseph's find it hard enough to feed our families and pay the rent; we certainly could not have found the £886-10-0 required to build the church, and in addition to that there was the cost of the site. 1883 Less than a year ago the church was opened and now (27th March) we have our own school too. Eighteen pupils arrived on the first day. The new town bridge over the River Parrett was opened this year. 1885 The Sisters of Charity came to live in a house in King Street near the church and some of them are teaching in the new school. 1888 The Sisters have opened a laundry designed by Father Scoles to help pay their living expenses. They employ about twenty girls there. 1891 The Sisters left Bridgwater in June. Father Scoles left to go to Yeovil. Our new priest is Father O'Meara who used to be the curate at Taunton. 1892 A new stone pulpit has been erected in the church. Father Calway preached from the new pulpit in the morning, Canon Kennard from Cannington preached from it at the evening service. 1893 Father O'Meara was recalled to Ireland. 1894 Still no new parish priest, but we still have mass said for us by visiting priests - eleven so far this year. New priest arrived at last - Father Wadman. 1907 St Joseph's Church was consecrated by Bishop Burton of Clifton, twenty-five years after it was opened. 1914 A very black day for the parish on 4th August. Great Britain declared war on Germany and on the same day Canon Wadman died. Dr Browne became new parish priest for St Joseph's 200 parishioners. 1915 Father Browne had a bath installed in the Presbytery. 1918 The war ended today, 11th November. Father Browne is still very ill with the flu which has been around in Bridgwater recently. He died on 15th November. It is all very sad; he was only a young man of 41. 1919 Father Iles, our new parish priest, started a fund to provide a memorial to Father Browne. (The Calvary on the north wall of the church). 1920 Canon Scoles, the first parish priest of this church, died on 29th December aged 77 years in St John's Wood. 1921 The Holy Name Mission at Cannington closed. 1926 Mr & Mrs Grimshaw's boy, Francis, was ordained after studying in Rome. 1927 Father Iles went to St George's in Taunton and we now have a new parish pries, Father Cashman. 1932 We lost Father Cashman at Easter. He is now in Bedminster, Bristol. During the five years he was our parish priest he installed electric lights in the church. It is a good job he could do most of the work himself. With all this unemployment (2½ million) the parish had no spare money. Our new parish priest is Canon Davey. 1933 Society of St Vincent de Paul was started in the parish. There is still a lot of poverty in the town, mainly due to high unemployment. Many needy parishioners receive vouchers from the S.V.P. for bags of coal or food. 1934 A branch of the Catholic Womens League was opened in the parish. 1936 Plans have been prepared for extending the church but with so much unemployment still in the town it seems unlikely that the money can be found. 1937 Good news for Bridgwater and for many parishioners. A new factory for the manufacture of "Cellophane" was opened in April. 1939 Canon Davey was transferred to Taunton as a chaplain to the Franciscan nuns. The canon was finding the work of the parish very difficult due to his failing health. Our new parish priest is Father Byrne. Everybody is wondering whether there will be a war. Bishop Lee came soon after Father Byrne's appointment to administer Confirmation. He told us of his intention to open a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Rosary. The payment of rents for the reservation of benches in the church has been abolished. There are many new faces in the church nowadays with all these evacuees. War was declared on the 3rd September. The first of the new sisters have arrived at the new convent in Durleigh Road. 7th October, the convent chapel was opened (Feast of the Holy Rosary). During the same month the sisters opened a school. 1940 Our parish priest has been sent a curate., Father McCarthy. Work started on renovating the old school buildings which have been closed for over twenty years. Both priests are working with men of the parish to carry out the work. The school (59 children) re-opened with staff from the convent. On 26th May we had our first Corpus Christi procession. 24th August - the first bomb fell on Bridgwater and two of the seven victims were our parishioners. 1942 Ernest Fry of Polden Street was ordained to the priesthood on 2nd March in Paignton. Father Byrne is suffering from cancer and his condition seems to be worsening. Father McCarthy is doing most of the work helped by Father Byrne's nephew, Father Power. 1943 Father Byrne died on 2nd July. His body was brought back to Bridgwater for the requiem and for burial in the Bristol Road Cemetry. Father Timothy O'Connell appointed as new parish priest. 1946 The Knights of St Columba founded a coucil in Bridgwater. 1947 Father Grimshaw, an old boy of the parish, was consecrated Bishop of Plymouth. 1948 Bishop Lee died and three weeks later our parish priest, Father O'Connell, also died. 1949 Father Supple is still acting parish priest at St Joseph's. We cannot have a new parish priest until the Pope appoints a new bishop to the diocese. 26th July - Joseph Rudderham was conscrated Bishop of Clifton. At last we have a new priest, Father Ryan from Glastonbury. 1951 A summer fete was organised for the first time in the grounds of the Holy Rosary Convent. It was a huge success and is likely to become an annual event. 1952 Television has now come to Bridgwater. The Knights of St Columba erected the first public Christmas crib in a shop window in High Street. 1953 Parishioners sent a letter to the President of Poland condemning the persecution of Catholics in that country. 1954 Pope Pius XII declared this year as a 'Marian Year'. Francis Grimshaw was appointed Archbishop of Birmingham. A year of great interest in the Catholic Church. Father Aherne was replaced by Father O'Brien as curate. Microphones and loudspeakers were installed in the church. 1955 Since January we have had an evening mass at St Joseph's. Fasting before Holy Communion is now only one hour. 1956 Father Ryan bought some land near the Girls Grammar School for the building of a new primary school, which is so desperately needed. 1958 In March Father Ryan was moved to Bristol and replaced by Father Morrissey from Salisbury. A few days later the new bridge over the River Parrett was opened. Pope John XXIII was elected. 1959 Site purchased on Fairfax Road for the building of a new church. Bingo evenings started in the parish amd raised over £50 a month. Father O'Brien left the parish and was replaced by Father Daly. 1960 Dr Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, visited Pope John. A new tabernacle was purchased for our church at a cost of £52. 1962 Father Morrissey introduced the Society of St Vincent de Paul to the parish. A start was made on the building of a new Primary School and the foundation stone was laid by Monsignor Provost Canon Iles on 3rd October. 1963 Father Morrissey and Father Daly both left St Joseph's on 23nd April. They were replaced by Father McReynolds and Father Dee. St Joseph's new school was opened to pupils on 2nd September. There was no official opening ceremony as the Bishop was in Rome attending the Vatican Council. The school cost £60,831 and the parish now has a huge debt to pay off. 1964 30th April: Bishop Rudderham came to open and bless the new school. Pope John XXIII died: Pope Paul was elected to succeed him. A mass centre was opened at the Sydenham Community Centre. Father McReynolds introduced the parish to 'Good Stewardship' in a campaign which was launched by a free parish dinner held at thre Blake Hall. This was a tremendous success in raising the morale of the parish. 1965 Archbishop Grimshaw of the Province of Birmingham died 0n 22nd March. At Easter English became the language of the mass in England instead of Latin. Father McReynolds arranged a dinner for the over-sixties of the parish. Vatican Council II held its last session. 1966 At Easter the first issue of a new parish magazine (VOX POPULI) was publsihed. A mass centre was opened at Cannington in the village hall. The first mass there was celebrated by Father McReynolds on 5th June. 1968 From January Catholics in this country have no longer been obliged to abstain from meat on Fridays but old habits die hard. Father Dee was transferred to Wellington and replaced by Father Gordon who stayed in the parish for only a few weeks before being replaced in turn by Father Carpenter. The papal encyclical 'Humanae Vitae' was published and caused quite a stir in the parish, as in all other parishes. Further changes have been made in the Liturgy. There has been much concern about the legalising of abortion and many parishioners, along with many non-Catholics, formed a local group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. 1969 After all the changes in the liturgy that have been confusing so many parishioners, it has been announced that all the changes are coming to an end with the introduction of a new three cycle of readings at mass. Members of many different congregations in Bridgwater, including those from St Joseph's, took part in a Good Friday procession through the streets of Bridgwater. Father McReynolds read the Passion at the service held at the Cornhill. 1970 Canonisation of Forty English Martyrs in Rome on 25th October. Money raised by donations, coffee mornings, and other social events to send a parishioner as a representative. 1971 Keith Hardless ordained to the priesthood in St Joseph's Church. 1973 Father Carpenter left to become parish priest of Stow-on-the-Wold and was replaced by Father McGlinchey. 1976 School debt paid off. 1977 Father McGlinchey replaced by Father Peach 1979 The Co-operative building adjacent to the church was purchased for £20,000 to provided a site for either the building of either a larger church or enlarge the old church. A fabric committee of twelve parishioners was elected at a parish meeting to be responsible with the parish clergy for providing a larger church. 1980 Demolition of the old Co-op building was started on 27th October. 1981 Building of an extension to the church was started in May. A steering committee consisting of the elected members of the Fabric committee and representatives of the major parish organisations and interest groups was set up on 27th September to help organise the many parish events and activities of St Joseph's Centenary Year. The new extension to the church was used for the first time for the Christmas midnight mass. 1982 THE CENTENARY YEAR - A year of celebration DEO GRATIAS