Milestones in the History of our Parish

1783 the Vicar of Abingdon in his returns to the Bishop: “Are there any reputed papists in your parish?” “One only, - old and very poor”

1850 Conversion of Sir George Bowyer, Knight of Malta, benefactor of our Church and school, to Catholicism

1854 Appointment of first Missionary Rector (Parish Priest) of Abingdon by Bishop Thomas Grant of Southwark

1857 Solemn opening of the Chancel of the Church Establishment of St. Edmund’s School in the Sacristy, later moving to Friends’ Meeting House

1858 Consecration of the Cemetery

1860 Arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in Abingdon; establishment of Convent at ‘Mountjoy’ at Northcourt

1865 Opening of Girls’ Boarding School in Convent Building of Church completed and solemn opening

1873 St. Edmund’s School completed and opened

1882 Diocese of Portsmouth formed

1883 Convent Chapel solemnly blessed and opened

1954 St. Edmund’s ceases to be an ‘all age’ school & becomes a primary school
Inauguration of the shrine of Our Lady of Abingdon and blessing of the Statue by Archbishop John Henry King

1957 Centenary and Consecration of the Church of Our Lady and St. Edmund by the Bishop of Portsmouth

1961 Phase 1 of the new St. Edmund School officially opened by Bishop Holland

1971 The Deanery passes from Berkshire to Oxfordshire

1982 New Parish Centre, former St. Edmund’s school, blessed

1990 ‘Abingdon Alive’, inauguration of the Church in Abingdon

1991 Pilgrimage to Pontigny, ’St. Edmund’s burial place, to attend
 inauguration of the plaque given by Parish to Abbey at Pontigny

1998 Parish Day as part of preparation for the Millennium