The Foundation, 1870
St Mary's Retreat, Harborne, was founded in 1870 — one of several houses established by the Passionists in England during this period. Fr Martin Byrne CP was among the first Passionists to come to Birmingham for the foundation. He was newly ordained at the time and had been Master of Novices at Broadway; he went to Birmingham to obtain Faculties from the Bishop, accompanied by his Rector, Fr Alban Cowley CP. The two priests celebrated the first Masses in the first temporary Chapel, each serving the other in turn.
Fr Martin Byrne would spend the last fifteen years of his life at St Mary's Retreat Harborne, where he died on 8 April 1918.
The archive holds a letter from the Passionist Father General dated 1870 and a letter from Bishop Ullathorne dated 1875. A memorandum of the purchase of Harborne Lodge is dated 1873, and the notice of the opening of the new church at St Mary's Retreat, Harborne, is dated 6 February 1877.
Sources: Obituary of Fr Martin Byrne CP (Provincial Archive); Minsteracres,_Harborne catalogue (Provincial Archive).
The New Retreat Building
In 1911–12 a new retreat house was built at Harborne. The Cross Bulletin (Vol. II, 1911–12) reported the opening:
"Sunday, the 28th of May, was a red-letter day in our history at Harborne. It marked the opening of the new Retreat, which has been in the course of construction for the last twelve months. It had long been felt that [the old] house — not originally intended for monastic purposes — was too confined and inconvenient for the housing of a community, and so alterations had of necessity to be decided upon, in the shape of a much-needed extension. In the new addition are included a refectory and sacristy on the ground floor, and on the second floor corridor, approached by a flight of stone steps, are the choir for the devotions of the Fathers and cells for the several members of the community. The whole is built in approved ecclesiastical style, in red brick with stone dressings: the extension running from the side of the old house to the wall of the church."
The new building was opened with solemn High Mass Coram Episcopo, celebrated by Very Rev. Fr Malachy CP, Provincial. Among those present in the sanctuary was V. Rev. Fr Alban CP, Rector of Harborne. The Bishop held a reception afterwards and solemnly blessed the new Retreat.
Source: Cross Bulletin, Vol. II (1911–12).
The Brothers of the Passion
A few days after the opening of the new retreat building, on 8 June, the Rector entertained the Brothers of the Passion at a supper in the new refectory. The Cross Bulletin records:
"after the toasts of the Pope and King, there was made a formal presentation of £50 on behalf of the Brothers towards reducing the debt on the new building. Brother L. Hayes, as chairman, made the presentation on behalf of the Brothers of the Passion."
Source: Cross Bulletin, Vol. II (1911–12).
Fundraising: the Whist Drive and the Bazaar
The same volume of the Cross Bulletin records two distinct fundraising efforts for the new retreat. A whist drive held on 1 February was reported as follows:
"the recent whist drive, of February 1st, was a big success, whilst a very enjoyable evening was spent. The substantial amount of £15 4s. 6d. was taken as the result of the evening's work."
A separate report noted that the ongoing financial pressure of the new retreat — including a mortgage of £1,500 described as part of the old debt on the place — led the community to resolve to hold a Bazaar:
"Financial pressure in relation to the new retreat and the demand of payment of a mortgage of £1,500 (part of the old debt on the place) have made us resolve to hold a Bazaar, whereby we hope, by the co-operation of our friends, to raise some funds, at least for the builders' claims. We therefore have decided to hold a Garden Fête and Fancy Fair, here in our grounds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 13th, 14th, 15th of June next."
A Grand Bazaar Programme from 1881 is also held in the archive, evidence of an earlier fundraising effort at Harborne.
Sources: Cross Bulletin, Vol. II (1911–12); Grand Bazaar Programme, 1881 (Provincial Archive).
Fr Kevin McKeown CP: Student and Rector
The obituary of Fr Kevin McKeown CP records a lifelong connection between Fr Kevin and St Mary's Harborne. He came to Harborne as a Postulant at an early age. In August 1884 he became Prefect of Studies, in charge of the Harborne Students, and was ordained Deacon by Bishop Ilsley, Auxiliary of the Diocese, in the Harborne church. He was ordained priest in 1888 and gave a mission in Harborne Church in the Lent of 1890.
After a long missionary career in Great Britain, Ireland, and Australia, Fr Kevin returned to Harborne as Rector from 1932 to 1935. His obituary records: "During the Harborne Rectorship he had the consolation of celebrating the Golden Jubilee of his Religious Profession on March 6th [1934]."
Source: Obituary of Fr Kevin McKeown CP. Provincial Archive.
Historical Publications
St Mary's Harborne accumulated a substantial body of historical writing. Fr Leonard McCabe CP contributed 'Harborne, A Retrospect' to The Cross in November 1912. Fr Sylvester Palmer CP wrote on Harborne on several occasions: his Notes on St Mary's, Harborne (1952), a short history published in a diocesan magazine (1952), 'Notes on Harborne' in The Cross (1955), a script of the history of St Mary's Harborne (1956), and an article in Students' Preachers of the Passion (Winter 1958–9). A Year Book of St Mary's, Harborne was published in both 1952 and 1953.
The Centenary of the Passionists at Harborne was marked in 1970 by the publication of the Centenary Souvenir, The Passionists in Harborne, 1870–1970, compiled by Fr Bernard Leen CP, Rector. Six photographs from the centenary celebrations are held in the archive, along with photographs of the church and monastery from various periods and a group photograph of the community with Father Theodore Foley CP, Superior-General, bearing the signatures of those present.
Sources: Minsteracres,_Harborne catalogue (Provincial Archive); Fr Bernard Leen CP, Centenary Souvenir, The Passionists in Harborne, 1870–1970 (Provincial Archive).
Withdrawal from Harborne, 1973
The Passionists' presence at Harborne came to an end in 1973. The archive holds two letters from Fr Hubert Condron CP, Provincial, to the Province on the subject. The first, dated 9 April 1973, concerns the proposal to withdraw from Harborne; the second, dated 22 July 1973, confirms that the removal would take place on 12 August 1973 and that the Augustinians would be taking over the house.
Sources: Letters from Fr Hubert Condron CP, Provincial, 9 April 1973 and 22 July 1973. Provincial Archive.