The early years and establishment of the parish
Though we are part of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, for over a hundred years Marple Catholics were ministered to by the priest of Marple Bridge in the Diocese of Nottingham. St Mary's Marple Bridge was built in 1858/9 by Lord Howard of Glossop. Catholics were then baptised, confirmed, married and buried across the diocesan border. Our children attended St Mary's School as they do today.
Marple grew in the 1950's/60's with new housing estates and Manchester overspill. As the mills closed Marple became a commuter town. In 1967 the Bishop of Shrewsbury established the Parish of the Holy Spirit and Father James Gaskell became our first Parish Priest. Daily Mass was said at his house at 50 The Turnpike and Sunday Mass was at the Old Folk's Hall in the Memorial Park. The dual purpose church in Leigh Avenue cost £47000 and was opened in 1972.
Parishioners were active in setting up 'Marple Churches Together' in the late 60's and our parish played a major part in raising funds for the replacement of the Cross on Cobden Edge. The annual Wellspring Walk and the walk to the Cobden Edge Cross are always well supported.
Father James Gaskell died suddenly at just 49 years old in 1975 and was succeeded by Father Jim Robinson. The Stations of the Cross which were fashioned by a local artist from plasticised marble from the Holy Land are a memorial to Father Gaskell.
During Father Jim Robinson's time an elected Parish Committee was formed (unusual for a catholic parish). A legacy from Albert McDermott who died in 1976 enabled a Parish Meeting Room to be built. A small pipe organ built by George Sixsmith and Sons was installed in 1982.
In the 1970's a link was established with a parish in Zambia through Fr Cullen. In 1986 the Holy Spirit Walking Group was formed. This is still very much active and Spring and Autumn 'Weekends Away' are always popular. Some traditional annual events have changed over the years and current well-supported ones include a Photo Competition resulting in a calendar of winning photos and a Parish Quiz Night.
Father Robinson was succeeded by Father Joseph Prendiville in 1984. In 1997 a very successful Parish Day was held and a Parish Magazine was established and a Parish Prayer adopted. Father Joseph Prendiville died in 1998 and the present altar and lectern were designed and built for us as a memorial to him in 2002.
After a short period with Father Michael Smith in charge, Father Michael Dyson (along with his dogs!) became Parish Priest in 1999. To celebrate the Millenium the Parish Embroidery Group (God's Bodkins) created the wall hangings based upon the Parish Prayer and show the Holy Spirit in the guise of Wind, Water and Fire. In 2002 Stuart Adlington, who had been active in the parish for many years, was ordained deacon. Father Dyson retired in 2005 and and in 2009 Deacon Stuart moved to Burton Lazars.
Fr Marianus Kullu from India took over as Parish Priest for 12 years from 2005 until 2017. In July 2008 a new church website was created, www.holyspiritmarple.org. In 2009 the roof over the Altar was replaced. 2017 was the year for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Holy Spirit Parish and to mark this special occasion various events were organised. These included a Flower Festival which raised £900 for Wellspring, a Parish Picnic in Lyme Park, a Parish Dinner at Stockport Golf Club and finally an Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark, Fr Marianus and Fr Robinson.
More recent developments
Fr Bill Fitzgerald took over in September 2017 when Fr Marianus returned to India. Upon his appointment to Holy Spirit, Fr Bill also assumed full pastoral responsibility for St Bernadette's Church and its primary school in Brinnington. The 11am Sunday mass was subsequently discontinued. CCTV cameras were installed in 2017 to deter trespassers and vandals.
Fr Bill has found time to introduce the Diocesan 'Mission Together' project in both churches. Each church has been given a target to raise funds for the different aspects of the Mission which include engaging the youth, training new priests, looking after retired priests and of course the necessary church maintenance. The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has been re-established and members are now active in the parish community visiting those in need. Attendance at the Children's Liturgy is very encouraging and we now see up to 40 children at the 9.00am Sunday Mass.
Refurbishment of the presbytery started on 4th June 2018 and in September Fr Bill moved in. Work on the church toilets is also complete including the provision of a disabled toilet. The roof lights have been replaced and the leaking roof repaired. Other essential repairs to the church building were also carried out. A new gas boiler was installed in 2023.
In February 2020 a new website (http://www.holyspiritmarple.com) was created along with an associated X (twitter) page. The old website was subsequently taken offline.
Extensive refurbishment of the church frontage including the doors and windows was approved in 2023 and is planned for the future. Replacement of the main church carpets are also planned.
Fr Bill Fitzgerald was taken ill in November 2023. A succession of supply priests provided pastoral care of the parish until September 2024. Fr Bill resumed administrative and financial care of the parish from January 2024 until September 2024 when he retired from full time ministry.
To be continued.