Restoration articles from Stella Maris

Taken from the monthly parish magazine 1994-2011

A Surprise Visitor!

by Fr John Lavery, February 1996

On Thursday, 25 January, there was a call in the afternoon from Greenwich Council to say they had a very important visitor coming to Greenwich on Friday. The visitor had made a special request to visit the Church of Our Ladye Star of the Sea in Crooms Hill. This seemed to have caused a bit of a flurry among the Members because they didn't seem to know the reason for the request. They asked if someone could be at the church at 12 o'clock on Friday.

That morning I waited for this very important visitor who turned out to be Mr John Gummer, the Secretary of State for the Environment. It appears that way back in the 70s he knew Monsignor Farrell. Mr Gummer told me that in talks of architectural value, he often referred to the Presbytery, the Church and to the Convent and how the three periods of architecture could blend together and yet retain their individuality. 

He was rather disappointed with the Church and said it was upsetting to find that the beautiful ceiling had been painted over and that the tiles in the Church, which are supposed to be Pugin tiles, have been covered up as well. He found that the choir loft was completely out of character with the Victorian architecture of the Church. 

Mr Gummer asked if there was any possibility of bringing it back to its original state and I told him that it was a question of funds. So he said he would speak to English Heritage. He went into ecstasy over the beautiful Pugin tiles on the altar, pointing out to the different Members their value and their great character. He was obviously a man who knew a great deal about Pugin and a lot about architecture; a very pleasant man; a very easy man to talk to.

So, who knows, maybe with some funds from English Heritage or the Lottery Commission, we may be able to bring the Church back to its originality.

Do you know John Ford?

by Michael Egan, May 2001

A group of parishioners have subscribed to pay for the repair of the stained glass window on the North side of the church. The lower portion was destroyed during an attempted burglary. The dedication on the window originally read "Pray for the soul of John Ford" and the remaining panel states that he was killed in Palestine on 26 September 1947. At that time, the largely British manned Palestine Police Force were actively involved in coping with the problems between the Arab Palestinians and the Jewish residents and immigrants. It was the early stages of the Israeli-Arab conflict, with which we are all too familiar. 
 
From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission it has been established that John was a Constable in the Palestine Police Force, and that having died on active service he is buried in the war cemetery at Ramallah, 12km south-east of Jaffa. He was 18 years of age, and his parents were Mr and Mrs John Ford of Greenwich. Through the St. Joseph Academy Old Boys' Association we know he was at school there and that the John Ford cup for athletics was presented by his parents in his memory. A copy of his birth certificate is being obtained which will indicate where he was born in Greenwich. Copies of the Kentish Mercury for September and October 1947 are being studied to see if his death is recorded there.  
 
If anyone knows any more details or the whereabouts of any surviving relatives or friends, Father Lavery would very much like to know, so that a suitable record may be made of his sacrifice. R.I.P. 

Come back soon when there will be more of the story behind this beautiful stained glass window…