Catholic Mission at Coldham Cottage Bury Road, Lawshall

the church of our lady immaculate , st joseph, otherwise known coldham cottage, located in bury road near entrance coldham hall. time of reformation history of catholic mission had been closely linked rookwood family , coldham hall. hall in neighbouring parish of stanningfield main entrance gatehouse, avenue , present church in lawshall.

the rookwoods had been in area since 1315, built magnificent house in 1574 , pulled down former residence. new house constructed built-in secret attic chapel, hiding hole , escape down chimney outer wall.

four years after completion of hall queen elizabeth paid visit lawshall. efforts made rookwoods persuade visit them @ hall these rewarded 1 of family being thrown in prison in bury st edmunds later died. disturbances between roman catholics , protestants touched village in many ways. tale of fines , confiscations can followed in rookwood records. during these difficult times priests stayed @ coldham hall names not recorded security.

sometimes during late sixteenth century or seventeenth century attic chapel no longer used religious purposes. place used mass, buried in woods , surrounded moat. second chapel @ house named barfords , building, remains of chapel still survives. @ time rookwoods linked gage family @ hengrave hall when sir thomas gage took on coldham hall mother rookwood. brother fr. john gage brought coldham mission end arranging many people travel new church in bury st edmunds. in attempt stop drop in communicants @ beginning of nineteenth century third chapel built @ coldham hall. still there no longer used services.

in 1865 when fr. patrick rogers priest new challenges arose when coldham hall sold because of financial difficulties. mass said @ barfords once again until 1870 when presbytery @ coldham cottage adapted , extended form present church. @ time catholic school moved site adjacent new church.

coldham cottage dates late seventeenth/early eighteenth century , has timber-frame, whitewashed , rendered, pantile roof , brick central ridge , right end projecting stacks. separate church created utilising 1 unit of existing house (kitchen , bedroom removal of floor) , building on extension. whole represents unusual , rare instance of continuing catholic use @ least eighteenth century.

following renovation work cottage, there resident priest facility provide holiday accommodation clergy wanting take time off own parishes. present church oldest roman catholic mission in suffolk.