The Friends of the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Maughold
A short history of the church
The first Catholic Church in Ramsey since the Reformation opened its doors
in 1863, to provide for the small Catholic congregation that then existed.
It was a converted warehouse, on a north/south axis at the top of the beach
south of the harbour entrance. The building had been built originally as
a flour store. After a number of other and varied uses, it became the Catholic
chapel on 10th October 1863, and in July 1864, Dean Gillow became its first
parish priest. In 1871, the chapel was dedicated to St. Maughold and handed
over to the Bishop of Liverpool as a gift to the church from Mr. John Lane.
Dean Richard Gillow was laid to rest in Maughold churchyard in 1900.
His mantle was inherited by Father Richard Barton. Father Barton's first
care was to establish a Catholic school, which was built in 1902.
By this time, the then chapel was showing its age. The absence of proper
foundations and the attacks of sea-laden winds were taking their toll.
In 1906 Father Barton began the campaign to build a new church. Tragically
however, in 1908 at the age of only 43, Father Barton died, and it was
Father Barton's successor, Father John Walmsley, who supervised the completion
of the present church and presbytery.