History
In this section you will find information on the history of the Chaplaincy, the people and priests who have been involved over the years as well as the building itself.The Catholic chaplaincy in Bristol University is in an imposing Georgian building situated in Clifton next door to the Students' Union in which the chaplain had previously occupied an office. The building had formerly been the vicarage of St Paul's Anglican church, and was acquired by the diocese in 1964, with the aid of a grant from the Van Neste Foundation. At that time the future Bishop Mervyn Alexander was chaplain. The chapel, dedicated to St Catherine of Siena and St Thomas Aquinas, is the centre for many ecumenical activities. The building also has accommodation for twelve students.
Chaplains
Residents
House and Road Names
From 1964 University Catholic Chaplaincyc1906 - Became known as 103 Queens Road
c1883 - Became Known as St. Paul's Lodge, Queens Road
c1855 - Became known as 2 Park House, Queens Road
?-c1828 - Known as 2 Park House, Richmond Road/Grosvenor Place/Richmond Hill
Note the Chaplaincy is referred to as 2 Park House, and the modern day 19 Richmond Hill Ave is 1 Park House
Queens Road was created in 1854 and extended in subsequent years.
(Source Bristol Library/Bristol Directories and Bristol Record Office/1873 extension plans to confirm Chaplaincy is number 2)
Bulletins of Old
Bulletins provide essential information for all parishes and also provide an interesting way of looking back over the pastlife of the chaplaincy; providing a glimpse into the communities gone before us.2004 || 1984 || 1983 || 1982 || 1981 || 1978 || 1980 Term Card || 1972
Photos from 2006
These photos taken in 2006 provide an up-to-date view of the Chaplaincy. It may be interesting to compare these to the photos taken in 1964!Chapel || Front Door || Library || Outside || Outside 2 || Outside 3 || St. Pauls Lodge Sign
2004 - 40th Anniversary Celebration
In 2004 the Chaplaincy celebrated its 40th anniversary. Part of the celebrations inluded Mass celebrated by Bishop Mervyn in the chaplaincy along with a mass celebrated at Clifton Cathedral.Sunday 6th of June - Bishop Mervyn Homily & Newsletter
Sunday 2nd of May - Chaplaincy Mass at Clifton cathedral - Bulletin
2001 - Bishop Mervyn Honorary Degree
The first full time Chaplain to live at the Chaplaincy was Marvyn Alexander, who later became Bishop of Clifton. In 2001 he was awarded an honorary degree by the university of Bristol. Click here for his Commendation.1988 - Constitution of CASSOC
Though superceeded by a new constitution in 2005, you can click here to view the 1988 Constitution.1980 - An Introduction to the Chaplaincy
103 Queens Road is a lighthearted introduction to life in the Chaplaincy for those who live there as well as those who attend mass.1972 - First Female Resident
In 1972 the Chaplaincy allowed women to live within the chaplaincy for the first time. Here is a photo of two house residents (Ian Williamson and Kathy Coffeyin the Chaplaincy garden (supplied by Dan Kreft, house resident 1972-73 and 1976)
1965 - Catholic Chaplaincy Society Constitution
Click here1964 - Chaplaincy Opens
The year the Chaplaincy as we know it began. Click here for a Chaplaincy leaflet circa 1964. Below are links to photos of the Chaplaincy: Bar || Chapel || Chaplains Office || Library || Outside
27th Nov 1972 - Grade II Listed Building Description
Includes 19 Richmond Hill, CliftonThree attached houses, now one. Late C18 attatched pair, mid C19 extension. Limestone ashlar, party wall stacks and copper clad roof. Double-depth plan. Late Georgian style, with Italianate style extension.
3 storeys; 3-window range to C19 entrance front. C18 Georgian attatched park with C19 house added across right-hand end: a shallow projecting right-hand entrance block, and wide left-hand exterior stack with bands at sill heights; rusticated ground floor to a band. Semicircular-arched tripartite doorway with flanking windows, plate-glass fanlight and 2-leaf 8-panel dorr. Small semicircular-arched window to the left, and single story block tot he right with a matching tripartite window, balustrade to the parapet, and balustrades to aprons below the windows. Tripartite windows above the dorrway have segmental arches to the middle windows, and plain windows to the left.
The left return has a canted bay with keyed, segmental-arched windows and balustrade to balcony, shallow first-floor canted bay, and balustrade to balcony, shallow first-floor canted bay, and tripartite second floor window, both with segmental heads to the middle; balustrade section to parapet above. C18 pair to the left each had 2-window range, will pilasters, a rusticated ground floor, cornice and parapet; keyed ground-floor windows, tall first floor windows have balconies with cast iron brackets and pointed arched railings, to 6/6-pane sashes. The left return has a central single-storey porch with pilasters and 6-panel door with over and margin lights, and a semicircular-arched second storey window; balustrade section to the centre of the parapet. Interior: C19 block, large entrance hall divided by a segmental arch with panelled soffit, to a central open-well stair with cast-iron balusters projecting from the treads, cornices and 6-panel doors.
(Bristol Library records of listed buildings)
1873 - Extension of 2 Park House
Mr Arthur Baker had the original house extended in 1873. There are drawings filed in Bristol Record Office showing the old house and the extension: Basement || Ground Floor || First Floor || Second Floor
(Bristol Record Office)
1851 - Census
1 Park House:| Name | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Birth Place |
| Barrington Tristam | Head | 57 | Royal Artillery Lieutenant | Barkston, Lincs |
| Susannah Tristam | Wide | 44 | Bombay, India | |
| Eliz. Tristam | Daughter | 8 | Scholar at home | Kensington, Middlx |
| Saml B Tristam | Son | 7 | Scholar at home | Clifton |
| Ann B Bartlett | Governess | 43 | Governess | East Stoke, Notts |
| Harriett Poole | Servant | 27 | House Servant | Swansea, Glamorgan |
| Sarah Hill | Servant | 32 | House Servant | Bristol |
| Sarah Knight | Servant | 20 | House Servant | Exmouth, Devon |
2 Park House:
| Name | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Birth Place |
| John McArthur | Head | 44 | Iron Merchant | Scotland |
| Susan McArthur | Wife | 35 | Barbadoes | |
| Charles McArthur | Son | 4 | Clifton | |
| Florence McArthur | Daughter | 3 | Clifton | |
| Donald McArthur | Son | 1 | Clifton | |
| Mary Meek | Servant | 35 | House Servant | St Michaels, Bristol |
| Jane Maggs | Servant | 32 | House Servant | Chilwood, Somerset |
| Susan Harrison | Servant | 28 | House Servant | Carahampton, Somerset |
| Anne Evans | Servant | 20 | House Servant | Stoke Bishop, Glos |
1846 - 29th Feb 1864 - John McArthur
John McArthur came to Bristol around 1838 from the Glasgow area of Scotland to work for a famous local firm of Acraman's who helped build the SS Great Western. In 1839 he went into partnership with Charles Morgan Junior (to whom he left all his real estate - presumable including 2 Park House : Bristol Record Office/McArthur Family Papers) and called the company Morgan, McArthur & Company - Iron, Copper and Tinplate Merchants, Wholesale Ironmongers nad makers of edge tools. This company still exists today and is called the McArthur Group (www.mcarthur-group.com) and is one of the largest family owned companies in the UK! In 1842 John married local barrister's daughter Susan Dayrell with whom he had 9 children. John McArthur's died on 29th Feb 1864 at 2 Park House (Bristol Record Office/McArthur Family Papers) leaving a collection of 22 paintings. His sons Donald (listed on 1851 census) and Allan joined the company in 1866 and 1887.(http://weldgen.tripod.com/id47.html)
