Catholics in Coventry

This is a topic to pull together some of the information about catholic issues, locations and information. PDF about St Osburgs and also older locations The Little Park Street church mentioned in the text is the building with the cross on the right of this painting

My maternal grandparents were married at St Osburg's. They were both from Northern Ireland but met in Coventry at a party. My grandfather was here for work at the Standard Motor Co. He was from Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. My grandmother came from Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. It was the sad case that one was Protestant, one Catholic, and their families never contacted them again when they got married. Think I've mentioned before they lived in Newcombe Road where I visited every Sunday morning after Mass at All Souls. Earlsdon had many Irish families living there in the 50s/60s/70s.

Whereabouts was that LPS Chapel, Helen? Can't see it on maps?

It was in front of Court 14 as far as I can tell.

Most interested in this topic, Neil. I have read about the house with the cross prior to St Osburg’s. I have Irish ancestors from Dublin. First (or second) wife Mary Ann Flood died 19 Sept 1849 at West Orchard, Coventry, of Asiatic Cholera. Buried 21 Sept 1849 aged 50, London Road Cemetery (b 1799 Dublin. John Brooks then married Sarah Pickard of Hill Street. William, son of first marriage, born 31 Jun 1839 West Orchard, Coventry, bap. 23 Jul 1839 St Osburg's Church. John's parents, Richard and Eleanor Brooks, of Dublin, Ireland. The daughter of John and Sarah was baptised and confirmed in St Osburg’s but she married my great-grandfather, 1880 in St Michael's!!(William Whitehead, b. Keresley 1852). My grandad said he ran away from the Catholic School in Coventry (St Joseph's?) but he also claimed his mother was a Guinness, which is not correct. She was Mary Agnes Brooks, born Hill Street.

Hi all, I like this topic very much. Most faiths have gone though dreadful persecution from time to time. Some of my best friends are of a Catholic persuasion. "Some eat meat & some don't". Love to you all.

I forgot to mention that it was pure chance my grandparents met in Coventry. My grandmother was working as a housemaid in London and only came to the party as her friend knew someone here and had been invited.