Heartstrings: Salesian beginnings at Battersea, London

16 February 2018

Salesian beginnings at Battersea, London

Last night Fr John delivered a talk at Battersea about the Salesian roots at Battersea. Sacred Heart Parish at Battersea was the first Salesian presence in England, way back in 1877.

A few interesting points and insights from the talk...

Salesians were invited to England not really by a Bishop but by a Countess, Georgiana de Stacpoole. She was a formidable woman who divided her time between France, London and Rome. She had quite a few high connections given her title and active social role. The Parish at Battersea was in fact her 'creation' - when she fell out with the parish authority of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, she decided to start another Catholic community in the neighbourhood.
Right since the beginning of his historical origins, Battersea was an economically backward region. The building of the railway line worsened the situation. The railway line on one side and the Thames on the other, isolated the place and was considered the slum dwelling of London.
Fr Francis Dalmazzo, the first Salesian to set foot on the English soil, who came to 'inspect' the place, following the directions of Don Bosco was first enamoured by the fact that there was a railway station (Clapham Junction) close at hand! (Honestly it never struck me before: the connection between early Salesians and railways - Italians had a thing for technology! Only knew that our navajeevans were started and still continue close to the railway stations, for apparent reasons. But other than that was not aware of this particular early Salesian 'criteria'!)
There were three Salesians who formed the first Salesian community on English soil: Fr Edward McKiernan, an Irishman and two Italians: Fr Giovanile Bounavier and Br Rossaro.
Fr McKiernan died within a year, having contacted TB, and the climatic condition of Battersea speeding his death. Fr Macey, who by then, had arrived from Italy along with Br Ribaldone, was made the Rector of the community. (Fr John Dickson is firmly convinced that Fr Macey was not part of the first delegation that set foot in England). Br Rossaro went back to Italy within a few months of his arrival, unable to cope with the climate.

The handwritten note by Don Bosco to Fr Macey dated 17 November 1887.
This note was handed over to Fr Michael Hynes, the Parish priest at Chertsey. a few days ago by a relative of a fellow Salesian who worked with Fr Macey at Chertsey in the early 1900s.
It is basing on this note that Fr John Dickson confirms that Fr Macey was in Italy, with Don Bosco,
when the first batch of Salesians reached the English shore (on November 16, 1887).

If my intuition is right, perhaps this was the first Salesian mission to be opened without the Italian slant. Most other missions were primarily targeted - though not exclusively - to cater to the Italian immigrants. Fr John's reading of this is that Don Bosco - master strategist, that he was - reasoned that if he was to expand his work for young people far and beyond, needed personnel who could speak more than Italian. Furthermore which was the most expansive empire in the late 20th century? Having confreres who could speak English would give him access to all the colonies wherever the British were.

Years later when the present Church of Sacred Heart was completed at Battersea, in 1893 Don Rua came for the blessing and inauguration. He brought with him a vestment used by Don Bosco, a monstance decked with the jewels of the mother of late Augustus Czartoryski and a special chausible he wore for the day (all of which are still preserved at Battersea church).

The vestment of Don Rua for the special occasion of the blessing and inauguration of the new Church at Battersea.
The centrepiece is a representation from the book of Revelation, of the lamb on the book with the seven seals.