October 31, 1940
Translation by Professor Kinder:
Dearest Rev. Father Nicolle,
You will have received our cable. Our church is no longer there. The photos included here will give you a small idea of the ruins. With the church, all of our vestments were destroyed. Our statues, alters, absolutely everything that was part of the church, which served the liturgy and devotions and the Catholic life of our people. The flaming oil bomb hit the middle of the church and in a second it was nothing but an inapproachable ball of fire. It took the fireman a long time to get here. Since Whitton doesn’t have a local fire station, they worked well once they got installed, and have saved the school and the parish house. Elsewhere, other bombs exploded in front of the parish house and all of the windows and doors in the front were broken into little pieces. I’m too exhausted and preoccupied to write to you any longer. You can’t imagine the disarray… the main trial came to us that morning when Brother Barrell was supposed to pronounce his vows. I took him myself over to the convent of the Sisters of Twickenham. And he pronounced his vows in the presence of the community. I will send you his vow papers and the official papers attesting to this ceremony. I wrote to Father Lyons and Father Casey for the masses. I had to pass on a certain number of them to the Lazarist Fathers of Osterley because they dated back to March or April. And at that time Father Johnston had asked me to take more of them. Since his camp change [physical move] he has come back to ask us and our list is now approaching its end [saying masses for the dead].
Our parishioners have given me almost enough for one priest, either directly, or by offerings in the boxes in the church. It is impossible to find decent accommodation for my people many of them have gone elsewhere and the collection/offerings have therefore diminished substantially. We will try to hold the mass on Sunday in the school and during the week in the parlor where the holy sacrament is kept. We ask you for your prayers and your affection. It’s impossible to foresee today what will happen here. I wrote the architect asking him to come and examine the church, perhaps to roof it temporarily and restore it enough to serve for the mass. I doubt it, all the walls are cracked and the iron beams are bent.
Yours in our savior,
Cheray
Dearest Rev. Father Nicolle,
You will have received our cable. Our church is no longer there. The photos included here will give you a small idea of the ruins. With the church, all of our vestments were destroyed. Our statues, alters, absolutely everything that was part of the church, which served the liturgy and devotions and the Catholic life of our people. The flaming oil bomb hit the middle of the church and in a second it was nothing but an inapproachable ball of fire. It took the fireman a long time to get here. Since Whitton doesn’t have a local fire station, they worked well once they got installed, and have saved the school and the parish house. Elsewhere, other bombs exploded in front of the parish house and all of the windows and doors in the front were broken into little pieces. I’m too exhausted and preoccupied to write to you any longer. You can’t imagine the disarray… the main trial came to us that morning when Brother Barrell was supposed to pronounce his vows. I took him myself over to the convent of the Sisters of Twickenham. And he pronounced his vows in the presence of the community. I will send you his vow papers and the official papers attesting to this ceremony. I wrote to Father Lyons and Father Casey for the masses. I had to pass on a certain number of them to the Lazarist Fathers of Osterley because they dated back to March or April. And at that time Father Johnston had asked me to take more of them. Since his camp change [physical move] he has come back to ask us and our list is now approaching its end [saying masses for the dead].
Our parishioners have given me almost enough for one priest, either directly, or by offerings in the boxes in the church. It is impossible to find decent accommodation for my people many of them have gone elsewhere and the collection/offerings have therefore diminished substantially. We will try to hold the mass on Sunday in the school and during the week in the parlor where the holy sacrament is kept. We ask you for your prayers and your affection. It’s impossible to foresee today what will happen here. I wrote the architect asking him to come and examine the church, perhaps to roof it temporarily and restore it enough to serve for the mass. I doubt it, all the walls are cracked and the iron beams are bent.
Yours in our savior,
Cheray
November 13, 1940
Translation by Professor Kinder:
Dear Revered Father
Have you received my cable announcing the destruction of the church (hasn’t got a reply), and the letter which followed it? In this time of war, correspondence is slow and uncertain. Since then, we have had other damages. The exploding bombs fell all around us. Nearly all of the windows of the house were broke, the doors damage. Plaster fell from the ceiling and the roof fell in. the school also suffered from the same thing. The night raids begin as soon as its dark and last generally until morning. Bombs fall everywhere and the damages are considerable/major. Our district has suffered enormously and we never know what tomorrow will bring. We sleep in an underground refuge near the school and we sleep between watches. Its impossible to get any work done, there isn’t enough light. Nor any kind of heat. Nor an easy way to adapt. The time wasted is enormous because the days are so short in winter. And our health can’t hold out for forever because of the cold and the humidity. The authorities do what they can to improve the situation but faced with such enormous problems they are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the unexpected complications.
As far as we’re concerned, we hold mass in the school on Sunday and in the parlor during the week. This is a temporary arrangement which carries with it, all sorts of inconvenient things such as, transporting the alter and all the rest in all weather, on Saturday and bringing it back on Sunday evening. And moving back all of the school furniture, etc.
I saw the architect yesterday, he asked the contractor who built the church to make a detailed inspection [of] the remaining walls and to see if a temporary roof could be put in place in such a way that we could reintegrate the church [back with their life]. All that, even if its possible will be very expensive in time of war. No compensation will be paid by the insurance; war damage is not covered. Only after the war, the government promises compensation. What will that be? Impossible to know. We will receive nothing from the diocese. You know the conditions of the contract singed by yourself with the cardinal. If the decision of the architect is to rebuild, atleast the roof, what should I do? The bank could probably provide the money, but we can never pay the interest with revenue from the parish especially during the war when all of our activities are stopped. And our sources of revenue diminished. Personally, I don’t see how this can be done. I have received some money, about 100 [pounds], but that is where it ends and will barely be enough to repair damnages on the school and to give us the basics for mass. Impossible to make a public appeal! Everybody is in the same situation and is suffering the same trials.
Everyone is wishing for peace, but one that is just and honorable. Let’s pray that this will happen before too long. I would very much like to tell you more but it would be too long and perhaps indiscrete. Write to me and give me your suggestions as soon as possible. Pray for us. We have more need of it than ever.
Yours in our Lord,
Cheray
Dear Revered Father
Have you received my cable announcing the destruction of the church (hasn’t got a reply), and the letter which followed it? In this time of war, correspondence is slow and uncertain. Since then, we have had other damages. The exploding bombs fell all around us. Nearly all of the windows of the house were broke, the doors damage. Plaster fell from the ceiling and the roof fell in. the school also suffered from the same thing. The night raids begin as soon as its dark and last generally until morning. Bombs fall everywhere and the damages are considerable/major. Our district has suffered enormously and we never know what tomorrow will bring. We sleep in an underground refuge near the school and we sleep between watches. Its impossible to get any work done, there isn’t enough light. Nor any kind of heat. Nor an easy way to adapt. The time wasted is enormous because the days are so short in winter. And our health can’t hold out for forever because of the cold and the humidity. The authorities do what they can to improve the situation but faced with such enormous problems they are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the unexpected complications.
As far as we’re concerned, we hold mass in the school on Sunday and in the parlor during the week. This is a temporary arrangement which carries with it, all sorts of inconvenient things such as, transporting the alter and all the rest in all weather, on Saturday and bringing it back on Sunday evening. And moving back all of the school furniture, etc.
I saw the architect yesterday, he asked the contractor who built the church to make a detailed inspection [of] the remaining walls and to see if a temporary roof could be put in place in such a way that we could reintegrate the church [back with their life]. All that, even if its possible will be very expensive in time of war. No compensation will be paid by the insurance; war damage is not covered. Only after the war, the government promises compensation. What will that be? Impossible to know. We will receive nothing from the diocese. You know the conditions of the contract singed by yourself with the cardinal. If the decision of the architect is to rebuild, atleast the roof, what should I do? The bank could probably provide the money, but we can never pay the interest with revenue from the parish especially during the war when all of our activities are stopped. And our sources of revenue diminished. Personally, I don’t see how this can be done. I have received some money, about 100 [pounds], but that is where it ends and will barely be enough to repair damnages on the school and to give us the basics for mass. Impossible to make a public appeal! Everybody is in the same situation and is suffering the same trials.
Everyone is wishing for peace, but one that is just and honorable. Let’s pray that this will happen before too long. I would very much like to tell you more but it would be too long and perhaps indiscrete. Write to me and give me your suggestions as soon as possible. Pray for us. We have more need of it than ever.
Yours in our Lord,
Cheray
November 26, 1940
t
Translation from Professor Kinder:
November 26 1940
Very Reverend Father
Your letter of the 2nd of November which arrived yesterday amazed us, Father Langlois and myself. It is obvious that the [censored][person who censored things] has cut short our telegram Suppressing the most important news, the destruction of our church. I told you about it in several letters since and I have asked myself if you had received them. There is however, no military interest in making known this sad event and it is most necessary that you are made aware of our situation as quickly as possible. Now that the event is already old, I will try one more time to tell you the truth, in neither mentioning date nor place nor details that could instruct the enemy and in mailing my letter from somewhere else.
And flaming oil bomb fell in the middle of the church in the night when brother Barrell was with us for his vows. In only a few minutes, the church sacristy, gallery, and all that they contained were nothing more than an inapproachable [stove]. Everything was consumed even the holy sacrament. Brother Barrell and I came back in the morning to the convent of Twickenham where he pronounced his vows on the intended/prescribed days. I sent you the account of the ceremony, have you received it? I have a copy in case we need it.
For the moment, we say mass in our parlor during the week. In the school on Sunday. I cannot have ceremonies or burials or marriages or devotions nothing to nourish piety and to satisfy my people. We have to transport the alter, ornaments, vestments, everything from one place to another 2-3 times a week. In all weather. And, take it all down, rearrange the whole school every time. It’s an enormous task. And very demoralizing. And this could go on for months, perhaps years as the war continues. The walls are still standing, some of them are cracked and dangerous. The iron beams were bent by the heat. The roof is completely gone. We are preparing a request for compensation. But, we can’t receive anything until after the war is over. That is the law. It depends on how things end up. If the country is ruined, what can the government do?
The builders came yesterday to make an estimate of damages. I asked them if a temporary roof could be put on the walls. If they were cleaned a little. The floor raised to make place for cement. And the sacristy put back a little in order. They think that this could be possible if permission were given to have the building materials. The cost would be between 750-1000 pounds. This would only be temporary work. A covering in paper without a ceiling and without chairs or furnishings. I don’t know what to think. I am so struck by the disaster that I can’t recover my clear vision of the situation in which we find ourselves. I would willingly give up my place for a younger and bolder [master]. But, where to find one? In any case, I hope that you will receive this letter so you can give me suggestions and advise me.
Thank you for news of Pontigny. We have received nothing from personnel in France. Not even from the part that’s not occupied. I’ve asked myself what has happened to my family especially my nephews who were soldiers. Buying the abbey of Pontigny would be a lovely gesture and a legitimate reparation but what type of work would you establish with the small number of French personnel left to us. However, the Fathers over there would be the best judges and it is natural that [Monseigneur Lav(u)ry] would be most interested. Who knows if this event would help the resurrection of our society in France. Father Casey just sent us 100 masses. I mentioned our penury (poverty) to Father Lyons, tell him if need be that he doesn’t need to send anything, but to wait a little. Pray for us as we do for you. We are in a critical situation: God alone can save us. The night raids continue a little everywhere, and the ruins increase. Did I tell you that our parish hall and school have been seriously damaged by neighboring bombs a week after the church? If only our health will hold.
Father Cheray
November 26 1940
Very Reverend Father
Your letter of the 2nd of November which arrived yesterday amazed us, Father Langlois and myself. It is obvious that the [censored][person who censored things] has cut short our telegram Suppressing the most important news, the destruction of our church. I told you about it in several letters since and I have asked myself if you had received them. There is however, no military interest in making known this sad event and it is most necessary that you are made aware of our situation as quickly as possible. Now that the event is already old, I will try one more time to tell you the truth, in neither mentioning date nor place nor details that could instruct the enemy and in mailing my letter from somewhere else.
And flaming oil bomb fell in the middle of the church in the night when brother Barrell was with us for his vows. In only a few minutes, the church sacristy, gallery, and all that they contained were nothing more than an inapproachable [stove]. Everything was consumed even the holy sacrament. Brother Barrell and I came back in the morning to the convent of Twickenham where he pronounced his vows on the intended/prescribed days. I sent you the account of the ceremony, have you received it? I have a copy in case we need it.
For the moment, we say mass in our parlor during the week. In the school on Sunday. I cannot have ceremonies or burials or marriages or devotions nothing to nourish piety and to satisfy my people. We have to transport the alter, ornaments, vestments, everything from one place to another 2-3 times a week. In all weather. And, take it all down, rearrange the whole school every time. It’s an enormous task. And very demoralizing. And this could go on for months, perhaps years as the war continues. The walls are still standing, some of them are cracked and dangerous. The iron beams were bent by the heat. The roof is completely gone. We are preparing a request for compensation. But, we can’t receive anything until after the war is over. That is the law. It depends on how things end up. If the country is ruined, what can the government do?
The builders came yesterday to make an estimate of damages. I asked them if a temporary roof could be put on the walls. If they were cleaned a little. The floor raised to make place for cement. And the sacristy put back a little in order. They think that this could be possible if permission were given to have the building materials. The cost would be between 750-1000 pounds. This would only be temporary work. A covering in paper without a ceiling and without chairs or furnishings. I don’t know what to think. I am so struck by the disaster that I can’t recover my clear vision of the situation in which we find ourselves. I would willingly give up my place for a younger and bolder [master]. But, where to find one? In any case, I hope that you will receive this letter so you can give me suggestions and advise me.
Thank you for news of Pontigny. We have received nothing from personnel in France. Not even from the part that’s not occupied. I’ve asked myself what has happened to my family especially my nephews who were soldiers. Buying the abbey of Pontigny would be a lovely gesture and a legitimate reparation but what type of work would you establish with the small number of French personnel left to us. However, the Fathers over there would be the best judges and it is natural that [Monseigneur Lav(u)ry] would be most interested. Who knows if this event would help the resurrection of our society in France. Father Casey just sent us 100 masses. I mentioned our penury (poverty) to Father Lyons, tell him if need be that he doesn’t need to send anything, but to wait a little. Pray for us as we do for you. We are in a critical situation: God alone can save us. The night raids continue a little everywhere, and the ruins increase. Did I tell you that our parish hall and school have been seriously damaged by neighboring bombs a week after the church? If only our health will hold.
Father Cheray
December 17, 1940
Translation from Professor Kinder
December 17th 1940
I’m afraid that this brief message will arrive after the first of the year. IT bring my best wishes for a happy and good year and the insurance of my Christmas greeting. You are at least in America are enjoying peace and the security that allows the freedom of the spirit the development of good works and plans for the future. Here we are in war and living in permanent insecurity which overtime becomes an obsession which is difficult to live with. Our Christmas, for example, will offer little repose or really joy. It will not have the traditional festivities which are so attractive and consoling. No midnight mass. No sung mass even. No assurance that we will have in place the _______ singing in the night, the beautiful songs of glory to God. Because of the murderous bombs and the inciderary that are hitting our homes and church.
I ask myself if you have finally understood the truth. I wrote to everyone in different American houses announcing the horrible misfortune that happened here in the hope that one of my letters would arrive and perhaps get through the censor without being stopped or cut. And that you would soon realize oru unfortunate situation. The catastrophe happened the 29th of October during the night when a flaming oil bomb hit the church in the middle of the building. And was reduced to cinders in a couple of hours. WE could do nothing to save it, compensation is promise at the end of the war but nothing before and there is nothing we can do. WE have launched a repeal for reconstruction even temporary. Have a little more than 200 pounds at least I can borrow 500-600 pounds before we get any from someone else. I can probably do something. What do you think? Should I move forward in the expectation that compensation will come later This will not be enough to rebuild but atleast to make a church so we can have ceremonies. Even without festivities without anything, burials, marriages, etc. that attract people to come. WE use the school one Sundays and parlor during the week. This can’t go on forever. Ft. Barrell wrote to me that the bishop of Southwark will not ordain deacons at Christmas. He is very disappointed. His time will come at trinity probably. Ft. Langlois is pretty well physically. He is fearful of the raids and spends every night and part of the day in the shelter. His work as an assistant and finance person suffers but what can we do? No recent word from Ft. Johnston. My health is tolerable, but my nerve find no rest with the night raids that constantly threaten us. I haven’t even gotten undressed to sleep
Thank you for your letters. And News from VT and from the diverse missions as well as from the “pravel” tell me from whom myself I have had absolutely nothing since last spring. Happy new year to everyone in Randolph.
Father Cheray
I’m afraid that this brief message will arrive after the first of the year. IT bring my best wishes for a happy and good year and the insurance of my Christmas greeting. You are at least in America are enjoying peace and the security that allows the freedom of the spirit the development of good works and plans for the future. Here we are in war and living in permanent insecurity which overtime becomes an obsession which is difficult to live with. Our Christmas, for example, will offer little repose or really joy. It will not have the traditional festivities which are so attractive and consoling. No midnight mass. No sung mass even. No assurance that we will have in place the _______ singing in the night, the beautiful songs of glory to God. Because of the murderous bombs and the inciderary that are hitting our homes and church.
I ask myself if you have finally understood the truth. I wrote to everyone in different American houses announcing the horrible misfortune that happened here in the hope that one of my letters would arrive and perhaps get through the censor without being stopped or cut. And that you would soon realize oru unfortunate situation. The catastrophe happened the 29th of October during the night when a flaming oil bomb hit the church in the middle of the building. And was reduced to cinders in a couple of hours. WE could do nothing to save it, compensation is promise at the end of the war but nothing before and there is nothing we can do. WE have launched a repeal for reconstruction even temporary. Have a little more than 200 pounds at least I can borrow 500-600 pounds before we get any from someone else. I can probably do something. What do you think? Should I move forward in the expectation that compensation will come later This will not be enough to rebuild but atleast to make a church so we can have ceremonies. Even without festivities without anything, burials, marriages, etc. that attract people to come. WE use the school one Sundays and parlor during the week. This can’t go on forever. Ft. Barrell wrote to me that the bishop of Southwark will not ordain deacons at Christmas. He is very disappointed. His time will come at trinity probably. Ft. Langlois is pretty well physically. He is fearful of the raids and spends every night and part of the day in the shelter. His work as an assistant and finance person suffers but what can we do? No recent word from Ft. Johnston. My health is tolerable, but my nerve find no rest with the night raids that constantly threaten us. I haven’t even gotten undressed to sleep
Thank you for your letters. And News from VT and from the diverse missions as well as from the “pravel” tell me from whom myself I have had absolutely nothing since last spring. Happy new year to everyone in Randolph.
Father Cheray