A special open day was held on Saturday (June 28th) at Burnham-On-Sea’s ’round church’.
Visitors headed to Our Lady and The English Martyrs in Highbridge Road for the event to hear more about the church’s activities and learn about its history.
Organiser Pat Nicholls thanked all those who had attended through the day and said the event had been a great success.
“As well as tours of the building, there were displays on the history of the La Retraite Sisters who built two local schools and the first Catholic church in the town, plus educated so many people of the area.”
“There was also a display showing the history of St Joseph’s School by the pupils of Year 5.”
A number of historical artefacts went on display besides the display boards to bring the history to life.
This included several paintings by local artist Cécile Crombeke who attended the La Retraite Convent School and left just before the Second World War when she served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
The story of the statue of Our Lady and The English Martyrs was also explained – it was brought from France in 1898 by a small group of La Retraite Sisters when they came to settle in Burnham and is still on display at the entrance to the building.
