In response to increasing Catholic congregations and housing growth, one of the first episcopal acts of the new Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson, was to celebrate a Mass for the Dedication of the new church and altar of St Benedict’s, formerly a Methodist chapel, in Gillingham, Dorset on Tuesday 9 December.
The Gillingham church project was identified against the background of the area’s local plan, with 1,800 new homes planned in Gillingham (increasing the town’s dwellings by 30%). These developments would exacerbate the need for a bigger Catholic church to serve a growing community. Even before the redevelopment, there were not enough spaces for parishioners, who had to arrive early to get a seat.
St Benedict’s is part of larger diocesan plans, which include a church development in Tiverton: a response to an increasing Catholic congregation and new housing developments.
Bishop Nicholas Hudson said: “I am delighted that one of my first acts as the new Bishop of Plymouth is to celebrate a Mass for the Dedication of the new church of St Benedict and its altar in Gillingham, Dorset. This new church, along with developments in the parish of Tiverton, reflects our commitment to supporting growing Catholic communities and to serving local communities across the diocese. I am grateful to the Methodist community in Gillingham for their generous collaboration and support in this project.”
The priest-in-charge of Marnhull and Gillingham, Father Cletus Ibeka, moved into his new home in September 2025. He shared his excitement about the project: “This new church represents not just a physical expansion, but a spiritual one as well. The growth is not only in our faith community, but in our commitment to serving the people of Gillingham.” This timing coincides with the tercentenary of the parish’s founding with the Marnhull Mission in 1725, marking a significant milestone in the local Catholic community’s history.
The new church includes a highly unusual design feature: natural light will shine in the confessional. Very few confessionals have natural light, but the new confessional in St Benedict’s has windows to provide natural light and ventilation, as well as sound proofing. The focus on light is central to the renovation project, with the new parish church taking advantage of natural light for a parish community which will seat up to 200 people. In addition to natural lighting, solar panels are on the presbytery roof and there are energy-efficient systems throughout. The renovations also include: a unifying timber floor that respects the building’s history and the integration of stone sanctuary furniture from the former military Catholic chapel in Bulford Camp, including the altar, the ambo, the font and the presider’s chair, thereby preserving a piece of Catholic heritage from Salisbury Plain; a new sanctuary with stone steps and a solid wood block floor; the conversion of the former Sunday School into modern living quarters for the priest; with an emphasis upon accessibility throughout. Additional facilities also include a hall, parish kitchen, and meeting rooms.
Deacon of Marnhull and St Benedict’s parish, Gillingham, James Mackain-Bremner, who has been actively involved in the project, said: “This innovative approach to lighting, especially in the confessional, highlights our wider vision. We’re creating a space that’s not only larger to accommodate our growing parish, but also spiritually uplifting. Our aim is that when somebody comes in, they’ll look up and feel there’s something here that’s greater than themselves – something beyond what we see on a daily basis.” Deacon James highlighted the project’s emphasis upon sustainability: “It’s about repurposing; reusing, employing local artisan and using local suppliers, and community integration.”
Revd Lin Francis, Superintendent Minister of the Yeovil & Blackmore Vale Methodist Circuit said: “A chance conversation over Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday 2022 with members of the congregation from St Benedict’s RC led to both churches exploring the possibility of the sale of the Methodist building to the Roman Catholic Church. There were a few dilemmas along the way, but God had his hand in all of this.
“The aims of the Methodist Society weren’t all met, but two out of three is amazing; keeping Christian worship and mission and keeping the church as it is on the outside, no developers changing it. The Catholic church has a bigger base and the opportunity to envisage a mission for the next 100 years.”
The diocese is very grateful to the Methodist community for entrusting this historic building to its care. This project not only preserves an important local landmark but reimagines it for a new era of worship and service within the local community.
HOMILY OF BISHOP NICHOLAS HUDSON
You can find images from the day on our flickr account here
Notes (taken from the Dedication Mass Booklet)
In 1900 it was recognised that there was a need for a Catholic church to be provided in Gillingham to meet the needs of a growing population. Initially a chapel was set up in Pierston House in Milton on Stour. This continued in use until 1907 when the lease on the house ceased. However, the people of Gillingham ‘having tasted the sweets of Mass so close were most desirous of its continuance’ sought a new building. Major Freame (related to the Hussey family of Marnhull Mission, founded in 1725) decided to transform a cottage he owned in Gillingham into a chapel to be served from Marnhull. This became St Benedict’s Church in Cemetery Road. It had to be rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1929, and in 1975 it was enlarged as demand grew.
In 2015, Bishop Mark O’Toole paid a pastoral visit to Marnhull Parish during which he celebrated Mass in St Benedict’s Gillingham. He noticed that the small church was crowded (as was usual), with no ancillary space, no facilities or wheelchair access and the need for the celebrants to vest in a corridor, and he suggested we needed a new building.
In February 2023, after much preparatory work, consultation and false starts, the Parish Priest at Marnhull, Fr Francis Straw OSB, was approached by the Circuit Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Gillingham who suggested that, as we were looking for more space, we might wish to purchase their building. This led to lengthy and careful due diligence and synodal conversations across the parish.
In May 2023, representatives of the diocesan Curia visited the site, met with the clergy and diocesan property department and examined all the survey findings and affordability. Subsequently, the Diocesan Trustees made an offer for the site that was finally accepted in October 2023, although the sale was not completed until February 2024.
After interviews, Phillip Hughes Associates were appointed as project managers and, working with parishioners, they immediately started to plan in detail. They made full use of the work carried out by parishioners under the guidance of Fr Martin Budge since the start of the project in 2015. For some years it had become clear to several priests that the Parish Priest was not readily accessible to the majority of parishioners whilst living in Marnhull and that he should move. The newly acquired building came with an attached Edwardian Sunday School that would readily convert into a presbytery in the heart of Gillingham. The first priest having arrived in 1725, this was not a decision taken lightly, but it meets the pastoral needs of the parish to have a priest available to as many people as possible. In June 2024, the parish had another change of priest with the appointment of Fr Onyebuchi Cletus Ibeka, who immediately embraced the project and subsequently moved into Gillingham in September 2025.
We sincerely thank Bishop Nicholas for agreeing to come to celebrate this Mass for the Solemn Dedication of the Church and Altar under the continued patronage of St Benedict in our new building, and we look to the future with humble confidence and enthusiasm as we strive for the greater glory of God and the good of the people in our area.
Image credits: Ben@nativemultimedia