The Catholic history of Plympton is long and rich. In the days of King Aethelwulf a small group of religious men founded a monastic house just to the west of the current pre-reformation Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin. This monastery was transformed into an Augustinian Priory in 1121. The Priory of Saints Peter and Paul was famous around the area for its generosity and hospitality. In 1450 The Prior of Plympton was granted a special privilege to appoint Priests to hear confessions due to the “great multitude of faithful from diverse parts of the world who came to the Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin, Plymbrigge, on account of many miracles which God hath wrought therein by the merits of the said Virgin”. The Black Prince also attended Mass at the Priory in Plympton, having sailed up the river Plym. 

In 1534 King Henry VIII confiscated the possessions of the Priory and razed the buildings to the ground. 

Pope Pius IX restored the Hierarchy to England and Wales in 1850 and Plympton became a small corner of the Holy Cross parish. Father Keily was at one time the parish Priest and left when he was consecrated Bishop of Plymouth in1911. Following his death in 1928 it was decided that a Memorial Church should be erected to his memory. A collection was held in 1930 which paid the majority of the land purchase and construction. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Barret in 1931 and, on May 22nd 1932, Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes for the first time. Until 1934 there remained a debt on the property of £700.00 which meant that the Church could not be consecrated. But, due to the generosity of Mary Teresa O’Reilly and Mary Josephine O’Reilly, who died in 1932 and 1934 respectively, this debt was paid and Our Lady of Lourdes was finally consecrated on 25th September 1935. You can see a plaque erected for them on the back wall of the porch.  

In 1975 the annexe and kitchen were built – the screen door can be opened or shut to allow to extra seating at Mass or for the space to be used for social occasions or meetings. 

If you look up to our choir loft you will see our small, but powerful pipe organ and also a small stained glass window designed by Dom Charles Norris – If you are local to the area you will also likely have seen his work in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Buckfast Abbey. 

We have indoor and outdoor grottos in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes and we are home to a vibrant, diverse and devoted congregation.