The text of the history section is from the Parish History, written by Des Keohane. The printed version is avaliable from the Church for £3.50, and may be requested by post, at extra cost for postage. Any amendments or additions are welcomed - please send by email to Fr Andrew

Mass attendance in the 1950s was just over 500, and rose to its high watermark in the late 1960s and early 1970s when it often exceeded 1000. In the 1980s average mass attendance was 950, and in the ten years 1995-2005 it was just under 700. The decline is similarly reflected in the figures for the Diocese as a whole. We are challenged in an increasingly secular country. However, it is important to note too that the Catholic population within our parish has also declined, for in 1974 the new parish of The Sacred Heart was formed to serve the new Eastern Development of Northampton. The new parish drew in former parishioners of St. Gregory’s, who lived on the eastern fringes, and those living in Moulton, which St. Gregory’s had previously served.

Since the formation of the Parish in 1947 it has been served by five parish priests (or Priests-in-charge) - Father (Canon) Eric Phillips, Father Jim Marks, Father John Harris, Father Michael Harrison and currently Father Andrew Behrens— and 19 assistant priests (see pages 29, 30). In 2003 the Parish welcomed Father Andrew Behrens together with his wife Carole and their two daughters. Father Andrew is the first married priest to serve St. Gregory’s. He was formerly, for 22 years, a priest in the Anglican Church, and was received into the Catholic Church in 1992 and ordained priest in 1998. Each priest has made his individual contribution to the development of the Parish: we have been well served.

Regrettably, the number of priests available to the Bishop is declining, and like other parishes St. Gregory’s has felt the effect. From 1948 until 2000 the Parish always had two priests, and for a short period in the mid-1970s it had three. Since the retirement of Father Harris and Father Smith, in 2000, the Parish has been served by only one. This has marginally affected the number of Masses offered: in 2001 it no longer proved possible to offer the 8 am Mass on Sundays at St. Gregory’s, and the regular mid-week Mass at St. Andrew’s Hospital is now often replaced by a Communion Service. We are warned by the Bishop that in the years ahead the lack of sufficient priests will pose challenges to all parishes and, of course, St. Gregory’s will be no exception.

St. Gregory’s has been greatly helped by the ordination of Permanent Deacons, drawn from our own congregation. The first Deacon ordained for the parish was the late Reverend Robin Cooper in 1987. Robin was a former Methodist Minister, and then Head of Religious Education at Thomas Becket School for many years, a national organiser for Rainbows and author. In 1990 the Reverend Michael Fleming, a Personnel Manager in the NHS, and the Reverend Rory Stewart, an Environmental Health Officer, were also ordained. A fourth deacon, the Reverend Michael Graney, a retired statistician, was ordained in 1998. The Deacons, and happily, in 2008, the latter three are still working in the Parish, have helped to ease the manpower demands but, more importantly, make their individual contributions to the well-being of the parish, both in its liturgical and community development.

Lay organisations have served and continue to serve the Parish well, furthering spiritual, charitable and social aims. Parish records reveal. over the years, an impressive roll-call of organisations, some with continuous active life, some with periods of quiescence, some serving a particular need at a particular time: Prayer Groups, Association of the Propogation of the Faith., CAFOD, Needlework Guild, Knights of St Columba, Union of Catholic Mothers, The Veterans, Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Cubs, Youth Groups, Mums and Tots, Gregory Celtic F C, Archconfraternity of St Stephen, Apostleship of the Sea, Irish Dancing and many others. Special mention needs to be made of The Legion of Mary and The Society of St Vincent de Paul, which throughout our history have with prayer and good works supported the sick, the poor and the needy. Individually and collectively, parishioners have given active support to wider-based organisations such as Marriage Care, Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child, LIFE, Catenians, Marriage Encounter, Rainbows, Pioneers, Council for Justice and Peace and others.

Lay men and women have contributed immeasurably to the support of the clergy and to the development of the parish. Fund raising is a regular necessity in any Catholic Church and at St. Gregory’s Sunday collections have been augmented by the work of parishioners running bazaars, jumble sales, loan schemes, planned giving, raffles and draws, dances, coffee mornings. Lay volunteers work in the sacristy, run the Repository shop, maintain the cleanliness of the church, provide refreshments. Decision making ultimately rests with the Parish Priest, for he is responsible to the Bishop, but the laity at St. Gregory’s has freely given time, help and professional expertise. A line of continuity can be drawn from the Abington Social Committee pre-1947, through Father Phillips’s Planned Giving Committee, to the Finance Committee of Father Marks, to the Parish Council of Father Harris and Father Harrison, to the Parish Forum of Father Andrew.

Father John Harris came as Parish Priest in 1983. He was previously Parish Priest at Beaconsfield. He was no stranger to Northampton, being brought up here as a boy and having served Mass at Notre Dame Convent. During his time as Parish Priest new developments in the parish included the establishment of a Parish Council of 24 members with Finance, Liturgy and Social sub-committees. Regular rotas of lay men and women were established to act as Eucharistic Ministers. It has been noted earlier that at this time the Parish also saw the ordination of four Permanent Deacons.

In September 1989 the parishioners were shocked and alarmed to hear that Father Harris had fallen from a ladder whilst hanging the backcloth on the side altar. He sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to the John Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford. For a time his injury was life threatening. His recovery entailed two operations and he needed several months to recuperate. The newspaper cutting indicates the concern of parishioners and the welcome support which they gave.

In the late 1980s and early 90s, St. Gregory’s was fortunate to have the help of a Parish Sister supplied by the Good Shepherd Community. The Sister undertook welfare work in the Parish, as well as helping in Liturgical matters. The photograph is of one much-loved Sister, Sister Enda. In 1992 she left to fulfil other tasks in Jakarta in Indonesia. A farewell Mass was held followed by a buffet in the Parish Centre, and many came to say thank you and to wish her success in her new work.

The High Altar before the Blessed Sacrament was moved back from the side altar. The altar is prepared for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. In the foreground is one of our former sacristans, Mary Fleming, now living in retirement in Ireland. (Also see Appendix 5)

In 2000 Father Harris retired after 17 years as Parish Priest. A farewell presentation was made in the Parish Centre. Father now lives in retirement at Nazareth House in Harlestone Road where he says Mass for the nuns and residents.

Father Harris was succeeded by Father Michael Harrison, who came to us from Corby. Father Michael was only with us for three years. During that time he won many friends by his informality and approachability. A young man himself, he was particularly able to relate to the young people and young families in the parish. He supported the work of the Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs and the photograph shows some young members of
the parish winning the NAYC Indoor Hockey Tournament. Four were altar servers, five were members of the Liturgy Group and one was in the Music Group.

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Father Michael’s 40th Birthday.

The Parishioners arranged a surprise celebration at the end of Mass and after being given a hearty rendering of “Happy Birthday”, Father Michael cuts the cake!

Father Michael was joined for a time by the Reverend Graham Platt. Graham was a convert who had taught Science at Stowe School. He had studied for the priesthood at the English College at Rome and came to St. Gregory’s for parish experience. He was ordained Deacon at St. Gregory’s in January 2001. Shortly afterwards he was badly injured when attacked near Gatwick Airport. Fortunately he made a good recovery and was ordained priest at St.Gregory’s on 21 July 2001.

During Father Michael’s time, the Parish was pleased to welcome as a visitor his friend, Father Jude, an African priest. The Parish undertook a number of fund raising events to help Father Jude in his large parish in Africa. One was a Sale of Work (right) with an insert of Father Jude (top right).

Father Michael moved in 2003 to be Parish Priest at Bletchley and was succeeded by Father Andrew Behrens. The farewell to Father Michael and the welcome to Father Andrew was a combined event and, with so many parishioners wishing to attend, it was held at Thomas Becket School.

Soon after Father Andrew arrived, St. Gregory’s suffered a double loss with the sad deaths of our Deacon Robin Cooper in August 2003 and of Dom Eric Phillips at Downside in September, both dedicated servants of our Parish.

On a happier note 2004 marked the Golden Jubilee of the Parish. As we have seen earlier in this history, Father Andrew arranged for the solemn Consecration of the Church that year.

The Parish also celebrated with a pilgrimage to Rome in October of that year. The pilgrims followed in the footsteps of St. Gregory and offered intercessions for the Parish at his tomb.

In 2007, Father Andrew invited a team from the Sion Community to conduct a Mission in the Parish. For most parishioners this Mission was a new and welcome experience, if different from the traditional Mission. The team consisted of six lay people and one priest and they were predominantly young people who had found God in their own lives. They worked closely with families and with the young people of the Parish, in their homes and schools, and their services in church involved participation by the congregation. Parishioners provided accommodation and food for the team. The Mission ended with a Parish Social Evening.