Introduction
The following account is drawn verbatim from the Platea of Poplar House. It was written in Italian by Blessed Dominic Barberi and translated by Fr. Ignatius Spencer, who recorded it in the Platea. It is reproduced here from In Diebus Illis No. 9 (21 July 1979), which notes that "the relevant pages in the Platea are already frayed at the edges." All punctuation and spelling are reproduced as in the original text.
Dr. Wiseman and the London Foundation
Blessed Dominic's account opens by recalling the debt owed to Dr. Wiseman, who had already been instrumental in securing the first Passionist house at Aston and the second at Woodchester:
"Our Congregation is bound by a tie of eternal gratitude to the Right Rev. Dr. Wiseman, who was the instrument chosen by God for introducing us into England. No sooner was he consecrated Bishop of Melipotamus in partibus, and appointed coadjutor to Dr. Walsh in the central (sic) District of England, than he invited us to it, and after many difficulties which had to be overcome, put us in possession of our first house in this kingdom situated at Aston, near Stone, Staffordshire, as may be seen related in the Platea of that Retreat. Four years later, he recommended us to the excellent Wm. Leigh, Esq. who had purchased an estate in Gloucestershire, and moved this Gentleman to give us a house and Church upon his property, as in fact he did in the spring of the year 1846."
When Dr. Wiseman was advanced to Vicar Apostolic of the London District at the end of 1847 or beginning of 1848, Blessed Dominic anticipated what followed:
"Immediately on receiving this happy intelligence, we anticipated that, which has actually taken place, that this excellent Prelate after giving us our first house and obtained for us our second, would be to give us our third in his new District. It was not long before this expectation was realized. In the month of January 1848, Dr. Wiseman wrote to Father Dominic of the Mother of God, asking him if he could furnish him with some subjects to assist in giving missions in London to the poor Irish people. Among other things he wrote thus: 'I will give myself no rest till I have found a house for the Passionists in my District.'"
Coming to Poplar House
At the beginning of Lent 1848 Dr. Wiseman wrote again to say he had found a suitable house. Blessed Dominic records his visit:
"About the middle of Lent, the said Father came to London where he was received by Dr. Wiseman with great kindness and sent by him to see the house which is called Poplar House — West End — Hampstead.
He found the house perfectly suited to us, since although not far from London, it stands in a beautiful solitude, where nothing can be seen but trees and sky. The house itself is sufficiently large to contain a good community of religious, and though there is no Chapel, yet there is a handsome large room, which can easily be converted into a Chapel. Besides this, the house is surrounded by an extent of good fertile ground, with a garden, a shrubbery and a meadow fit to support two cows, which is a thing indispensably necessary for a religious community in this country. So that everything suits our circumstances. (sic)
But what pleased Fr. Dominic above all, was that in this place we should not have the charge of a parish, or as it is here called, of a congregation attached to the new house; but should be entirely free, just as in Italy, to give missions to help the Parish Priests who might call us; which is not the case with the two houses previously founded, as they have the burden of a congregation or Parish attached to them."
The Feast of the Ascension, 1848
In May 1848 Dr. Wiseman summoned Blessed Dominic to London to discuss the new foundation. Blessed Dominic recorded what followed:
"The Bishop asked him, when he should be able to go to the new house. Father Dominic answered: he can go that very Evening (sic). Dr. Wiseman replied. It is now too late. You can go tomorrow. (Ed. note: No quotation marks in text. All punctuation and spelling reproduced here as in original text) On the feast of the Ascension therefore of this year 1848, Father Dominic went to the new house, whither he was taken by Dr. Wiseman with his Secretary. His first thought was to arrange the room called (Ed. note: a space has been left here) where he might as soon as possible say Mass. Two days later arrived Brother Thomas, who was called by Father Dominic. He brought with him what was most indispensible for the Chapel and on the Sunday in the octave of the Ascension, Father Dominic said the First Mass, at which ten or twelve persons assisted."
The pastor of Hampstead, Mr. Parkinson, invited Blessed Dominic to give a course of exercises in his Chapel — an invitation that was temporarily deferred owing to complications with the occupying family at Poplar House.
The Bagshawe Difficulty
When Blessed Dominic arrived, he found the house still occupied by a Mr. Bagshawe, a barrister, who had taken it for his family and proved reluctant to leave:
"This good barrister came to Poplar House after the first Mass had been said, and the Blessed Sacrament had been placed in the new Chapel. He said that these steps were premature, that the house was not free; that there were many legal difficulties, which though they did not make the title void, yet would cause much embarrassment before full possession could be gained; and that if the landlord came to know that it was to be made into a religious house, he would either refuse to give the possession, or would cause us some vexatious difficulties; that it was therefore of the greatest consequence that no one should know that we were going to establish there a religious community; that the matter ought to be kept secret, till everything was arranged. This advice came too late since it was already known through the whole village that we were there for the purposes of making a foundation."
After a week of uncertainty, the exercises at Hampstead went ahead on the feast of Pentecost and concluded on Trinity Sunday. Blessed Dominic records the outcome of this difficulty with Dr. Wiseman:
"Father Dominic then went to speak to Dr. Wiseman, who had already been biassed by this barrister: but when this Prelate heard from Father Dominic, that if he went away he could not promise to return, he judged it best that he should remain at Poplar House."
The resolution came unexpectedly. Mrs. Bagshawe made up her mind to leave, and on 26th June 1848 she departed with her entire family, leaving Blessed Dominic and Brother Thomas in possession of the house.
Divine Providence
The account turns to the providential supply of funds for the new house:
"The Benefactors who have begun to contribute for this foundation are, first, the Rev. Mr. Morel who has given £10. and Mr. Walker who has given £5. besides many articles procured for us by his wife, who loves us more than if we were her children.
I had set aside £55 to assist in furnishing this house with what was necessary: but being obliged to send away £40, I was left with only £15, and with nothing but this sum, what could be done? Happily however soon after our arrival here a young lady, whom I had for some time directed while she was a secular made her religious profession at the convent of Princethorpe, and before her profession left at my disposal £30, which was forwarded to me by the Prioress of the convent, just when we were in the greatest difficulties here for the furnishing of the house. The name of this young lady is Whitgreave. In the month of October another young Lady, who was to make her profession in the convent at York, left me £10, in token of gratitude as she said, for my having on some occasion when I met her, calmed some spiritual anxieties or scruples in her mind. Who could ever have expected such succour from these persons?"
The Parochial Question
Though it had been the original intention that the Passionists at Poplar House should be free of parochial duties, the complaints of neighbouring parish priests made this impossible to sustain. Blessed Dominic records the outcome:
"Things came to such a pass that Father Dominic himself begged Dr. Wiseman to reconsider the matter, in order not to expose himself and us to a general persecution. This Prelate in consequence, on the 10th of April 1849 called Father Dominic to meet him in the house of a good Catholic in Hampstead, where was also Mr. Parkinson, the Pastor of Hampstead, who made a division of this parish, assigning to us all the Catholics, who lived below Finchley Road, and keeping for himself those who lived above this road. So that to us there remain all the poor people scattered over an immense extent of country; to him belong the few rich people of Hempstead."
In consequence of this arrangement, Blessed Dominic undertook the care of a most extensive parish. On Low Sunday, 15th April 1849, he went for the first time to celebrate Mass at The Hyde, a village four miles from Poplar House, whose parishioners were scattered as far as twelve miles beyond that point. The Passionists' move from Poplar House to The Hyde followed later that year. The narrative of Fr. Ignatius Spencer continues with the story of that foundation.
Source: In Diebus Illis No. 9 (21 July 1979). The text was transcribed from the Platea of Poplar House; the editor noted that "at this point in the narrative there is a circle with a cross" and a note in Fr. Ignatius Spencer's handwriting: "Thus far has been translated from what was written in Italian by Father Dominic before his death."