Fr JOHN HAGREEN
John Dominic Hagreen: b. 24 May 1919 Hampstead; lived in Lourdes for 7 years when a child; Junior House 1932-33; St. Edward’s House Sept. 1933-July 1937; Army c. 1939-46; St. John’s Seminary, Wonersh 1946-52; ordained priest Southwark Archdiocese 1952; served in the Diocese 1952-2003; Director of the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage; died 2 May 2003
John Hagreen was a priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark for nearly 51 years. Although born in London in 1919, his family lived in Lourdes for seven years (1925-32). His father had gone there with failing eyesight, but recovered. Returning to England in 1932, the family settled in Ditchling as part of the Guild of Artists and Craftsmen. Through the generosity of his godparents, John went to Ampleforth and St. Edward’s House from the age of 13 to 18. He served in the war as an Infantry Captain in North Africa. In Tunisia his legs were injured by shrapnel from a grenade thrown at him which exploded nearby. He spent months in hospital and the rest of the war in England.
On being demobbed in 1946, he went to study for the priesthood, being at St. John’s Seminary, Wonersh. Here he became a bee-keeper, mastering the art from scratch. After ordination in June 1952, Fr John worked first as an assistant priest, then as Parish Priest of St. John Fisher at Kidbrooke (a new parish) in 1975, as Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary, Brixton, and in 1984, as Parish Priest of St. Andrews Tenterden (where his predecessor Canon Currie had served exactly 50 years). Fr John Hagreen had been Director of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. He revised several times the CTS booklet A Guide to Lourdes. He served on the Ministry to Priests Team and the Marriage Tribunal. He remained active and robust until just before his death
(Obituary in Ampleforth Journal of 2003 – Vol. 108, p. 160)
I am the English Heritage author accused of being dismissive of the church! I am pleased to learn that it was built in 1935. Since writing my piece in 2005 I have discovered that the architect of st teresa's was Charles Fry Callow (1882-?) FRIBA. Callow trained with Arthur Wells of Hastings and then worked with the well known theatre designer, Frank Matcham, in Liondon. He set up practice in 1914 in Hastings and from 1919 worked with his brother Clayton Callow. From 1949 the practice was Callow & Burstow. See Hastings Observer 3rd December 1966.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me who designed the Stations of the Cross at St Andrew's Tenterden and also the statue of Virgin and Child?