Foundation of the parish
Introduction, Foundation of the parish, The church, The presbytery, The clergy, Parish, Congregation, Spiritual, Education, Social and economic, Some notable events, Acknowledgements
The Mission of Gainford was founded in 1852 by Mgr Thomas Edward Witham who out of his own means built the church at Gainford dedicated to St Osmund. He was the youngest of four sons of Henry Thornton Maire Witham, one of the Silvertop family of Minsteracres who changed his name to Witham on his marriage to Eliza Witham of Headlam, heiress to the estate of her father, William Witham of Cliffe Hall, near Piercebridge, where Thomas was born. Thomas was therefore descended from two of those staunchly Catholic families of wealthy landowners who did so much to keep the Catholic Faith alive in England during the long years of persecution following the Reformation. The family later went to live at Lartington Hall, near Barnard Castle, that part of the Silvertop estates, which Henry subsequently inherited, Cliffe Hall being sold out of Catholic hands and the chapel there closed.
Thomas studied for the priesthood, was ordained in 1829 and took up pastoral work in County Durham. By the time his father died in 1844, two of the older brothers had already died without issue and Thomas’ remaining brother George inherited the estate. He in turn died without issue just three years later, upon which Thomas came into his unexpected inheritance. There is a story that he applied to Rome to be laicised so that he could marry and perpetuate the direct family line, but was refused and as a penance was instructed to found a mission and build a church. He chose Gainford and on completion of the building of the church was in charge of the mission for its first five years. The church is dedicated to St Osmund who is one of the less well-known English Saints, so perhaps a few words on him might be appropriate:-
Osmund was born in Normandy in the first half of the eleventh century, the son of a Norman count. He followed William the Conqueror to England, where he became William’s chancellor in 1072. His work included the writing of royal letters and charters, and gave him considerable experience of administration.
In 1078 Osmund was appointed bishop of Salisbury. Here he finished building the cathedral, situated within the Normal fortress of Old Sarum, and its chapter of canons and their constitutions became the pattern for other English cathedrals. Osmund took part in the preparation of the Doomsday Book, and was present at the Council of Sarum in April 1086 when the results were presented to William
Osmund is reported to have been devoted to his duties, his diocese and his books. He was a strict disciplinarian but a man of moderation, well able to help in the transition from Anglo-Saxon to Norman ecclesiastical usages. He died on 4th December 1099, and was buried in his cathedral at Old Sarum. In 1226 his body and its tomb were translated to the new cathedral of Salisbury. The process of his canonisation was begun in 1228 but was not completed until 1457. His canonisation proved to be the last English canonisation until 1935, when John Fisher and Thomas More were canonised.
It is perhaps fitting that Mgr Witham should dedicate the church he was building at Gainford to St Osmund, the builder of the first cathedral at Salisbury.
