It is not simply the building, nor simply the people, nor even its lovely setting between sea and forest — though all these things contribute to its beauty, rather, it is the faith of the parish, the way God has guided us, and the way Our Lady's mantle of intercession has been felt across a hundred years of prayer, worship, and mission.
This week, I want to look more closely at the parish's history — how it began, how it grew, and where it is going. I also want to look forward, for we are on the threshold of something very significant: our church's centenary in 2027. That will be a moment to celebrate, to give thanks, and to renew our mission.
This week, I want to look more closely at the parish's history — how it began, how it grew, and where it is going. I also want to look forward, for we are on the threshold of something very significant: our church's centenary in 2027. That will be a moment to celebrate, to give thanks, and to renew our mission.
A Parish in the Making — Our Early Years
New Milton itself has a long history. The name "Milton" was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Mildeltune," or "Middle Farm." For centuries it was simply Milton. Then, in the 19th century, with the coming of the railway and a shift in settlement patterns, the name "New Milton" emerged. The station opened in 1888, and soon the town began to grow on the edge of the New Forest, with the English Channel marking its southern horizon.
For Catholics, this was still mission territory. After the Reformation, Catholic worship had been driven underground. Only in the 18th and 19th centuries did Catholic life begin to emerge more openly, with parishes like Lymington (1859) being established. For Catholics in Milton and the surrounding villages, that still meant a long journey to Mass.
Everything began to change in 1924, when Father Bernard Morris, parish priest of Lymington, began to celebrate Mass regularly in New Milton. First it was once a month in a house called Little Barrs on Fernhill Lane. Then, from October 1925, every Sunday Mass was celebrated at The Institute in Old Milton. The little Catholic community was small, but it was faithful — and it longed for a church of its own.
Building Our Lady of Lourdes
In 1925, Bishop William Cotter of Portsmouth took steps to make this hope a reality. He commissioned Catholic architect Wilfrid C. Mangan to design a church for New Milton. The style chosen was English Gothic, with knapped flints laid in a chequer-board pattern — a striking and distinctive feature that still catches the eye today.
The work was entrusted to Marchetti of Portsmouth, and in July 1927, only about 18 months after those first Sunday Masses began in Old Milton, Bishop Cotter came to New Milton to celebrate the opening Mass.
The church was built for about 160 worshippers. It was, in every sense, a leap of faith. Only about 50 Catholics were known to live locally at that time, yet the church was full to overflowing on the opening day.
The generosity of the faithful was remarkable. A benefactor purchased the site for the church, and contributions from the wider Catholic community ensured that the project could be realised. It was, as Psalm 127 reminds us:
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain." (Psalm 127:1, RSV-CE)
Clearly, the Lord did build this house — and He has sustained it ever since.
Growth and Expansion
By the 1930s, the little church was already proving too small. A Church Extension Fund was set up in 1935, but it took until after the Second World War for the work to be realised. In 1950–1951, the church was enlarged with new transepts and an extended chancel, giving us the space we know today. In 1955, Bishop John King consecrated the enlarged church.
Over the decades, parish life developed further. The parish hall was added in the 1970s, providing a place for catechesis, social gatherings, and community events. The church has seen re-ordering in line with liturgical developments, and a beautiful carved grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was created in 2013 from the stump of a Monterey pine that once towered over the grounds.
In recent years, the parish has embraced new technologies, live-streaming Masses so that those unable to attend in person can still share in the liturgy. In one month alone, Mass has been accessed by people in over thirty countries. From humble beginnings in a private house, the parish is now connected to the world.
The Centenary Approaches — 2027
As we look ahead, one date shines before us: July 2027 will mark 100 years since our church was opened. What a moment that will be — a centenary of grace, of Masses offered, of baptisms and marriages, of confessions and communions, of tears and joys, of faith carried across generations.
In Catholic tradition, a centenary is not simply a nostalgic milestone. It is a time of spiritual renewal. It invites us to look back in thanksgiving and to look forward in hope. We will celebrate with solemn liturgies, with joyful gatherings, and with prayer. But most of all, it is a chance to recommit ourselves to the mission Our Lady of Lourdes, New Milton has always had: to proclaim Christ here, in this place, between the sea and the forest.
Let us hear again the words of Christ:
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15, RSV-CE)
Our world includes our local neighbours in New Milton, our visitors who come on holiday, our online community who join us via streaming, and those yet to come who will find in this parish a home.
Lessons for Our Parish
As we prepare for the centenary, there are lessons from our history we can carry forward:
1. Stay humble — we began in a house. God blesses the little and makes it grow.
2. Be generous — the church was built and extended by sacrifice. We are called to give with open hands.
3. Keep adapting — new challenges (from wartime to pandemics) have always called us to respond without losing who we are.
4. Cherish creation — the forest, the sea, even the old Monterey pine remind us of God's gifts and our call to care for them.
5. Remain missionary — the Gospel calls us outward, to welcome and to witness.
A Parish Between Forest and Sea
Our setting shapes our soul. The forest reminds us of pilgrimage, of shelter, of God's presence in the quiet. The sea reminds us of journey, of horizon, of God's vastness. Together, they teach us balance.
Like the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, we know storms and calm. Like John the Baptist in the wilderness, we know solitude and proclamation. Our Lady of Lourdes, New Milton, is not an abstract parish — it is grounded in this land and called to sanctify it.
Scripture for the Journey
Here are words that resonate with our centenary journey:
"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come." (Hebrews 13:14, RSV-CE)
"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house." (1 Peter 2:5, RSV-CE)
"So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5, RSV-CE)
Looking Ahead with Hope
The centenary of Our Lady of Lourdes in 2027 will not be the end of the story — it will be the beginning of a new chapter. Children baptised today will be the leaders of tomorrow. Families who move into New Milton will find in this parish their spiritual home. Visitors who stop by may receive grace that changes their lives. Those who join us online may find their faith renewed.
Let us not simply mark 100 years with banners and cake — let us mark it with faith, hope, and love.
Parish Prayer for the Centenary
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of our parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, New Milton.
For a hundred years You have blessed us with Your presence,
in the Mass, in the Sacraments, in prayer and community.
We thank You for those who built our church,
for the priests who have served here,
for the families who have kept the faith,
for all the unseen acts of kindness and sacrifice.
As we look towards our centenary,
may this parish be renewed in hope,
deepen in faith, and abound in charity.
Through the prayers of Our Lady of Lourdes,
may we always be a light to the world
and a refuge for all who seek You.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A prayer for the rest of the week for all who read this blog post and all who never will
Lord God,
Bless this coming week for each one of us.
For those who have read these words,
and for those who never will,
pour out Your mercy, Your protection, and Your peace.
Comfort the lonely, strengthen the weary,
heal the sick, and console the grieving.
Guide the young, sustain the elderly,
renew all of us in the hope of Christ.
May Your Spirit rest upon New Milton,
upon the forest, the sea, and our parish of Our Lady of Lourdes.
And may we each walk this week in Your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
************A prayer for the rest of the week for all who read this blog post and for all who never will.
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