Let it not be forgotten how much the existence of this parish owes to an italian, Girolano Vaccari, who was born in Genoa, about 1804, and died here in Crowle in 1878, just six years after seeing his work, for the establishment of a Catholic Church in the Isle of Axholme, successfully realised.
He came to this country with a barrel organ -- quite a satisfactory undertaking, financially, as he was able to settle in Thorne and open there a second-hand furniture shop. From there he came to Crowle in 1858 as foreman of the new gasworks. Soon he became interested in finding out the number of immigrant Irish Catholics settled in the Isle, mostly at Crowle, Eastoft, Luddington, and Owston Ferry.
Mr. Vaccari, who anglicised his name to James Walker, discovered with the assurance of his wife (nee Hanna Rogers of Bungay, Suffolk) that there were about 450 Catholics in the Isle of Axholme, whose nearest pastoral care was at Howden, later at Goole, Brigg and Gainsborough. The initiative of Mr. and Mrs. Walker could not be realised amongst a very poor, Irish immigrant settlement. Mr. Walker had, however, heard of a most generous and religious-minded North Lincolnshire gentleman, whose aim in life was to restore the Catholic Church to his native country, and wrote to him concerning the Catholic population of the Isle. Thomas Arthur Young, Esq. of Kingerly Hall, near Market Rasen, replied: ". . . the spiritual destitution of the Catholics of Crowle and the neighbourhood is extremely pitiable as you represent them. Although I have great calls of charity, I will not forget Crowle; its forlorn state demands my first consideration over other applicants . . . signed, Arthur Young." And so St. Norbert's parish came into being
Before this time, Fr. Dawson of Howden and a Fr. McNaughton of Brigg had occasionally visited the Isle. In fact, we have a record of Fr. McNaughton saying Mass on Easter Tuesday, April 22nd, 1862 -- also later a Fr. Harris also from Brigg. Mass then was said at the Assembly Hall which adjoined the Crowle Fishmongers' Arms -- also used for auctions, public meetings, and no doubt for social occasions.
From 1864, Canon Scully of Gainsborough undertook the care of the Isle and celebrated Mass in Crowle each third Sunday -- remember that in those days there were no motor cars! Mrs. Hannah Walker made herself the local catechist.
As you may expect, there must always be the fly in the ointment. Some trial must come along, and it did not delay. Those were not the times of the Ecumenical spirit we experience today. Being a Catholic in those far-off times could bring about difficulties and even persecution -- and from these troubles Mr. and Mrs. Walker were not exempt. As they occupied the Gas House, they were told not to harbour the priest, nor to have so many Irishmen around -- or get out! They got out, but still gave a home to Canon Scully when on his pastoral visits to Crowle. May the souls of all the above-named spiritual benefactors be crowned with glory.
The remains of both Mr. and Mrs. Walker rest in the Crowle cemetery and their headstone was cleaned and restored in 1960 and in this centenary year, in a spirit of gratitude to their memory.
Gravesite of Girolano and Hanna Walker/Vaccari
So far, so good. Now there was the question for the Bishop of Nottingham, the Right Reverend Richard Roskell, as to whether a rural scattered parish like Crowle would be viable and self-supporting -- in that case, he would be delighted with this rural Lincolnshire development in his diocese -- "Deus providebit -- the Lord will provide!" And the next development was nothing short of providential.
We are told in a sketch history by the Rev. W. M. Smith, onetime parish priest of Crowle, that about this time Mr. Young discovered amongst his family documents an engraving of St. Norbert, kneeling in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, with the words: "St. Norbert, Founder of Premonstratensian Order."
St. Norbert, Founder of the Premonstratensian Order
Not knowing of the Saint, nor of his Order, he sought information from a Mr. Philips, publisher and bookseller of London and Antwerp. Mr. Philips was well acquainted with the historic Abbey of Tongerloo, in the province of Antwerp, and commissioned by Mr. Young, he got in touch with the then abbot, to know whether the Canons Regular of Prémontré would be interested in the new proposed settlement at Crowle, which could result in the return of the Order to England, where they had been extinct since the Reformation.
In April, 1871, Abbot de Swert of Tongerloo accompanied Mr. Philips to England. He visited the Bishop of Nottingham, had a look round Crowle and district, saw Mr. Young, and so matters were adequately arranged for the return of the Order to England. Immediately Mr. Young commissioned plans for both church and house. These were executed without loss of time by Mr. Hadfield of Sheffield and sent to Mr. Walker for the inspection of contractors -- Mr. George Sinclair was the successful one.
The foundation stone was laid on July 7th of that year and the first Norbertine, the Rev. Francis Martin Geudens, arrived in Crowle on September 2nd 1872 -- more than seven hundred years had elapsed since the first White Canons of Prémontré were established at Newhouse, near Brocklesby, about 30 miles from Crowle, along the Grimsby road.
- Reverend F. M. Geudens
- (in Abbatial attire, as later Abbot of the
- Norbertine Abbey at Tongerlo, Belgium)
October 15th, St. Teresa's Day, saw the solemn opening of the Church. On that occasion, the Right Reverend Abbot of St. Bernard's Abbey, near Coalville, celebrated the Mass, assisted by eleven priests and before a full congregation.
Another step in the right direction was witnessed on June 12th, 1873, when the first brick of the new elementary school was laid, and on September 28th, when the school took in its first 36 scholars.
The following year, 1874, our generous benefactor, Mr. Young, decided to enlarge both church and house. To the church he added a chancel 28ft. long, and a sacristy, to the house, additional rooms.
Now a short pause to assess progress before starting to build the Luddington Church, which was dedicated on November 4th 1877, to St. Joseph and St. Dymphna, as a chapel of ease to the parish church at Crowle.
Saints Joseph and Dymphna, Luddington
The next development of interest would be the building of the new school during the administration of Fr. W. M. Smith, the year being 1926.
Reverend W. M. Smith
Another chapel of ease, dedicated to Our Lady of Axholme, was established at Keadby in 1962 and the first Mass was said their by myself, A. P. Kerigan, on Sunday, December 23rd. The chapel was solemnly blessed by the Bishop of Nottingham on the evening of June 10th, 1963. Mass "Coram Episcopo -- in the presence of the Bishop" was celebrated before a full congregation and a number of clergy.
Our Lady of Axholme, Keadby
Over the years, embellishments have been made to the three churches, and their sanctuaries brought into line with the requirements of the new liturgy. Our Parish Church, whilst not monumental, is a place of devotion, prayerful in atmosphere and beloved by parishioners and visitors alike.
From Crowle, the Norbertine or Premonstratensian Order made other foundations of a community or parochial nature. Their two major foundations, Community houses in their own right, are Kilnacrott Abbey in Ireland, and Storrington Priory, in Sussex. Kilnacrott now has foundations in Australia and Scotland, while Storrington holds parishes at Crowle, Spalding, Manchester, Moorends, Stainforth, Holbeach, and its own parish of Storrington.
Let us praise and honour both priests and people of the past who have indeed handed on to us, all that we possess. Let us never forget our generous benefactor, Thomas Arthur Young, Esq. -- and our Italian pioneer, Mr. Vaccari.
During the hundred years of Crowle parochial life, there have been only four parish priests covering this pastoral span: Father, later the Right Rev. Abbot Geudens, Fr. W. M. Smith, Fr. N. Ellis, and myself, Fr. A. P. Kerigan. There was another provisional appointment which was never realised, and there have been quite a number of other priests attached to Crowle -- as members of the community or official curates -- but, though not forgotten, they are too numerous to name -- we thank them all for their work here. Nevertheless, we must mention our Centenary Curate, the Rev. Henry Andrew Smith, C.R.P., who comes from the next county and is a true Yorkshireman.
- (L.-to-R.): Reverend N. Ellis, Reverend A. P. Kerigan,
- and Centennial Curate H. A. Smith
I bow my head to God Almighty and in humble adoration, I beg His Benediction upon the Isle -- not only for our own flock but, in these Ecumenical days, for all Christians. May the prayer of Christ be realised -- "That they may all be one." How! We leave that to God -- as in the past, He will provide.
