St Mary Immaculate Church, Falmouth

By 1800, a Catholic oratory existed in Falmouth, inside a warehouse, by the port. In 1803, the oratory was replaced by a chapel after it was burnt down. Next to the chapel was a house for the priest. The priest that served the mission in Falmouth was a Franciscan, Fr Ignatius Casemore. In 1814, a new customs house was built and the chapel and the house had to move. In 1818, the priest was French, Abbé Jean Baptiste de la Grésille. He received funds for a new church from French aristocrats. On 24 October 1821, the new church was opened. It could accommodate 150 people and it was built to be indiscreet, resembling two semi-detached houses.[4]

By the 1860s, with the local Catholic population increasing, a new larger church needed to be built. The site for the current church was bought from John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley. The priest at the time was Canon William Casey. He commissioned Joseph Hansom to design the church. Building work started in 1868. On 26 August 1869, the church was opened in a ceremony presided by William Vaughan, Bishop of Plymouth, with William Ullathorne, Bishop of Birmingham. In 1881, the sacristy and tower and spire were completed by Joseph Stanislaus Hansom. In 1886, a parish hall was built. A school room was established in the hall. It has previously been in the church crypt.[4]

In 1908, the baptistery and porch were added, according to the original design of the church by Joseph Hansom. They were added by the priest at the time, Canon James Burns. He did it in the memory of Canon Casey. Around this time, an organ was also installed. In 1926, a Lourdes grotto was built off the north aisle. During World War II, Falmouth was a target of bombing. One bomb fell close to the church, damaging the roof and windows. In 1946 Canon George Cantell prepared the church for its consecration. On 8 September 1948, the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Plymouth Francis Grimshaw.[4]