CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
DRONFIELD
HISTORY
The Parish of the Holy Spirit Dronfield became an independent Parish with a resident Parish Priest, Fr. Stephen Perry and 20 families in 1961. Before that it had been part of the Parish of Our Lady and St Thomas Woodseats Sheffield in the Diocese of Nottingham.
There has always been a small Catholic Community in Dronfield even in Penal times. Parishioners would walk to Chesterfield or Woodseats to Mass.
After 1934, Mass was celebrated in the “Upper Room” in the White Swan Public House on Chesterfield Road. The priest came from Woodseats by car except in war time. The rent was half a crown (2 shillings and sixpence).
In 1949 a former Methodist Chapel became available and it was bought for the Parish by George Lunt the funeral director of Abbey Lane. Christmas and Easter, Marriages and Baptisms could now be celebrated in Dronfield. Children travelled to school at St. Mary’s in Chesterfield or Notre Dame and All Saints in Sheffield. When St Thomas of Canterbury’s Primary School opened in Woodseats, teachers and pupils went to the school from Dronfield.
By 1960, Dronfield was rapidly expanding with new housing estates and the Catholic population outgrew the little chapel which had served its purpose well.
In 1967 the present church/hall was opened. Fr. McGovern was then the Parish Priest and events in the dual purpose building helped to raise funds for the church and presbytery built in 1972 when Fr. Michael Quigley was Parish Priest.
Re-ordering of the sanctuary and hall in 1985 when Fr. Maurice Bartley was Parish Priest, has created a lovely church which can be turned into a function room with some furniture moving.
The addition of Stations of the Cross in Fr. Martin Williams’ time, and artwork by parishioners making liturgical windows and hangings have enhanced the church.
The choir has been an important part of the liturgy throughout.
In 1990, a Covenant was signed with sixteen churches in Dronfield and District (CTTD) when Fr. Terry Tolan was Parish Priest and the Church of the Holy Spirit has been part of many events with CTTD, like the Flower Festivals and Christian Care. A joint coffee morning has been held every week in the Catholic church for 30 years.
Fr. O’Connor followed as Parish Priest and work was done on the Presbytery and redecorating the church.
Other outreach activities have been with Cafod, Life and St Wilfrid’s Centre in Sheffield.
Fr. Patrick Walsh and Fr. Terry Doherty followed as Parish Priest.
The presbytery and adjoining land have since been sold.
Most recently, reorganisation of the parishes in the Hallam Diocese has meant that the former Parishes of Holy Spirit, Dronfield, Holy Family, and Annunciation Chesterfield, are now part of the recently formed Parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace, with Fr. Adrian Tomlinson as Parish Priest.
Dronfield Parish has always been fortunate to have help from the former Annunciation Parish, Chesterfield, and the Jesuits at Spinkhill when we needed supply priests.
During the Covid Pandemic we were so grateful to Fr. Beattie S.J. from Spinkhill for our weekend and Feast day Masses.
It is hoped that parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace, and visitors will attend all three churches in our wonderful and vibrant parish, as we journey together as a pilgrim community in Christ.