“Mass was first said in Shirebrook in 1900 in an old barn called Cox’s Barn. Later Fr. Froes rented a building on the recreation ground which had been intended for use as an isolation hospital but was condemned and therefore never used as such. He lived in part of it and said Mass in the other part. He remained there for about five years paying a rent of ten shilling per week. The building became known as the ‘tin cathedral’.

A little later, 1905-1906, Fr. Froes was responsible for purchasing from the Duke of Devonshire the land, on Langwith Road, upon which the present church was built, land and church costing £2,500. The foundation stone was laid in 1907 by Bishop Brindle.

Inscribed on the foundation stone of the church is the following:

This stone was duly laid by
The Right Reverend Dr. Brindle, D.S.O.,
Bishop of Nottingham,
On the 5th October 1907.

Edward V11 King
Pius X Pope
Charles Froes, Priest of this church.

At that time everything looked well for the church because part of Shirebrook pit was opening and the railway which passed close by was flourishing. About four hundred Irish labourers were employed to work on the church. It was said that they were very generous and paid two shillings and sixpence each week towards the ‘outdoor collection’. Gradually the labourers left and St. Joseph’s had some difficulties.

Fr. Froes retired to Church Warsop where he died in 1930. Fr. Cummins arrived as parish priest in 1933 and in that year the church was in desperate need of repair; leaking roof, plaster off the walls, birds nesting in it, church grounds looking like a common and used as short-cut to the village – it was indeed a sad looking place.

On Sunday, 6th September 1933 there were nine people at the first Mass and thirty-six at the second. It was thought by some non-Catholics that St. Joseph’s was finished, a failure, and strangest of all, ill-disposed Catholics vindictive from past quarrels and forgetful of God’s honour seemed to glory in its apparent failure. Circumstances however improved, thank God, and much work was done to the church and house.

"There are eight hundred Catholics in the parish, the practising Catholics have increased to one hundred and forty."
Fr. J. J. Cummins, Parish Priest 1936.

Fr. Charles Froes, the first parish priest of St.Joseph’s, Shirebrook, was born at Rothwell Haigh, Yorkshire on 25th March 1864, a direct descendant of the Dukes of Braganza, N.E. Portugal. He was educated at Ampleforth College. He was ordained priest on 28th December 1902.

He served for brief periods as an assistant priest at St. Barnabas’ Cathedral, Nottingham, at Clowne, Derbyshire and at St. Hugh’s, Lincoln. In 1904 he was appointed Parish Priest at Shirebrook. He died on 3rd February 1930 and is buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery, Shirebrook.

Peter Froes, great grand nephew of Fr. Froes, wrote the following:

“I visited St. Joseph’s church on 13th May, 2004, and met the parish priest, Fr. Carvill. When I mentioned the name ‘Froes’, Fr. Carvill’s eyes lit up as he realised the connection with Charles Froes, the founder of the Catholic church in Shirebrook.
Fr. Charles, along with the parishioners, built the church in Shirebrook. Fr. Carvill showed me Fr.Charles’ grave; close to his grave is the grave of Hannah Fretwell, for many years Fr. Charles’ housekeeper in the bungalow next to the church. Hannah’s daughter, Teresa, was born in the presbytery. When Fr. Charles retired, he went to live with Hannah in Church Warsop.

An Extract from the ‘Shirebrook Official Handbook & Coronation Souvenir’, 12th May 1937:

“The interior of St. Joseph’s Church is very pleasing with its semi-Gothic windows and well proportioned arches supported by ten carved stone pillars. The much admired fresco on the chancel wall is the work of a Manchester artist and it bears the crest of the Froes family. Visitors, to whom the church is open daily, invariably express surprise at finding such a beautiful church in a mining township.”

 Parish Priests of St. Joseph’s: 

Useful Links

Our Primary School - All Saints' School - St Mary's School Pray as you go - Nottingham Diocese
Catholic church in England & Wales -The Vatican - Zenit.org - CAFOD St Cecelia's Abbey
Lourdes, France - Our Site Sponsor