The Mount Walsall and the Venerable Ignatius Spencer (1799-1864)

by Michael Doyle

In May this year, St Mary's the Mount Roman Catholic Church began celebrations for its 200-year jubilee. 

The church, situated in Glebe Street, Walsall, was built between 1825 and 1827, and was officially opened on 10th May 1827 by Fr Francis Martyn. Fr Martyn was the first Catholic priest to be wholly educated in England since the Reformation.

In 1832, Fr George Spencer first took up his appointment as curate to Fr Martyn. In my article I will explore Fr Spencer's role in the Black Country and his missionary zeal.

The Hon. George Spencer was born on 21st December 1799 in London. He was the youngest son of the 2nd Earl Spencer, whose family was one of the richest families in Britain. He was a relative of Princes Diana, and so of Prince William the Prince of Wales.

The future Catholic priest went to Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge where he took a First Class Degree in Mathematics. During this time, he also became fluent in French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He later was able to obtain a working knowledge of German.

As the youngest son, George was expected to take the cloth in the Church of England which was the custom of the time in noble families. In June 1824 George received 'Priest Orders' at Peterborough Cathedral. He was given a living at Brington, Northamptonshire and became the Rector of the parish.

During this time, George became increasingly uneasy with the teaching of the Church of England and converted to the Roman Catholic Church in January 1830. He went to study at the Venerable English College (Venerabile Collegio Inglese) in Rome, being ordained as a Catholic priest in May 1832.

In June 1832, Fr Spencer was appointed to be assistant priest to the Rev Francis Martyn at St Mary's The Mount, Walsall, Staffordshire. Fr Spencer was mentored by Fr Martyn which had a positive influence on how he cared and ministered to his flock.

After service at The Mount, Fr Spencer was sent to West Bromwich, having asked for the "poorest and worst mission" in the district. On his arrival in the town he found 400 parishioners "scattered among the hovels and garrets of the area". The Catholic church in West Bromwich was opened on 21st November 1832, and Fr Spencer became the resident priest.

Fr Spencer once commented to his father that the time hunting rabbits on the Althorpe Estate had been good training for hunting out the Catholics who lived in burrows tunnelled into the slag heaps around Tipton, Darlaston, Dudley, and West Bromwich.

Fr Spencer founded the parish in Dudley in 1835. At first, he celebrated Mass in a disused warehouse and later he hired a Methodist chapel in King Street. The present church Our Blessed Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury was opened there in 1835 and designed by Augustus W.N. Pugin. The Duchess of Kent was a generous contributor, and Fr Spencer, owing to his connections with many wealthy families, succeeded in paying off the whole debt in a very short time.

In 1839, Fr Spencer moved to St Mary's Seminary, Oscott which is just outside Birmingham, where he became Dean and Spiritual Director. He stayed in this position for seven years.

In 1846, at the age of 47, Fr Spencer joined the Passionist community at Aston Hall, Stone, Staffordshire. He received the habit of the Congregation and chose as his religious name Ignatius of St Paul. In 1848 he made his profession in the hands of Fr Dominic Barberi.

Fr Ignatius was the first Englishman to join the Passionists. He preached throughout the country with fervour the power of the crucifix and a Crusade of Prayer.

He gave a series of "Little Missions" among Catholic communities. These were a course of exercises designed to last a day or two which were meant for the working man who could not get away from his job.

Throughout his years as a Passionist, Ignatius gave missions and retreats all over the country. He was a popular preacher and was in much demand, not only for his style and delivery but because he was revered as a holy man.

He died on October 1st 1864 at Carstairs in Scotland and is buried at the shrine of Saint Anne and Blessed Dominic situated in Sutton, Lancashire.

Ignatius Spencer became a Venerable in 2021 by Pope Francis which is a step nearer sainthood in the Catholic Church. Perhaps in the future we can all look forward to a Saint who had strong connections to the Black Country.

References
Ignatius Spencer Apostle of Christian Unity, Jerome Vereb C.A Catholic Truth Society (1992)
History of the Diocese of Birmingham 1850-2000, Editor J.J. Scarisbrick (2008)
Catholic Staffordshire, Michael Greenslade (2006)

Celebrations at St Mary the Mount begin