"This church is a conspicuous object in Maison Dieu Road, facing
Pencester Road. It was built in the years 1867-8, and was the
permanent settlement of the Roman Catholics in Dover, although the Dover
Mission had long before existed. It commenced in 1822, and Mass was
said in a house at 45, Snargate Street. In 1834 Mass was said in a
carpenter's loft in St. James's Street, the the floor being weak, it
became necessary to seek other quarters, and the old Wesleyan Chapel in
Elizabeth Street being then for sale it was purchased for £425; its
restoration cost £400, and £350 was paid for a priest's house adjoining.
This chapel was first used by the Catholics in May, 1835. In 1860
the priest's house was sold to the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway
Company for £650. About this time the estate of the Countess de
Front was devoted to Catholic charities, and with a portion of it the new
Catholic Church was built and endowed on the Maison Dieu Road. A
site for a Catholic Church had previously been bought in Ashen Tree Lane,
but the ground not being suitable, it was sold and a newsite, part of
Johnson's nursery gardens in the Maison Dieu Road, was purchased in 1864,
for £450. The building of the church was commenced in 1867, and it
was opened by the Bishop of Southwark on the 15th May, 1868. The
church, which is of the Pointed style of the 13th century, is 90ft. long
and 40ft. wide inside, and is built of Kentish rag and Bath stone
dressings, from the designs of Mr. Edward Welby Pugin, at a cost of £2300.
In 1873 the church was completed by the addition of an apse. Schools
adjoining the north side of the church were built in 1872 at a cost of
£527, and have since been twice enlarged. The War Office contributed
£50 towards the building of the church." (JBJ
1907)
