About Our Lady of the Wayside Parish Church · Solihull, England
Our Lady of the Wayside is a Roman Catholic parish church in Shirley, Solihull (West Midlands, England), serving Catholics in the south of the borough as part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Built between 1965 and 1967 to a striking Modernist design by Brian Rush, it is one of the finest architectural expressions in England of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, with the congregation gathered on three sides of a central high altar. The church is a Grade II listed building (listed 17 April 2015), praised for its original furnishings by Dame Elisabeth Frink, Walter Ritchie and Tom Fairs. The parish was founded in 1934 from the former house 'Heathfield' on Stratford Road and is best known through the long pastorate (1962–1991) of Fr Patrick ('Paddy') O'Mahony, a noted human-rights activist.
- Established
- 1934
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Wayside
- Rector
- Fr Andrew Franklin
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Wayside offers Catholics in Shirley and south Solihull a worshipping community rooted in a building that is itself an act of catechesis: a Grade II listed post-Vatican II church in which the liturgy is celebrated around a central altar with the congregation gathered close. The parish combines a full weekly schedule of Masses and the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a wide network of lay groups — the St Vincent de Paul (SVP) conference, Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust, Divine Mercy group, Journey in Faith (RCIA), a youth group, catechists, a children's Liturgy of the Word at the 11am Sunday Mass, and a parish school, Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School. It is also a place where many come simply to appreciate the architecture and original artworks by Elisabeth Frink, Walter Ritchie and Tom Fairs.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:30am–11:30am
- Saturday after the 5:30pm Vigil Mass
- Saturday 10:00–11:00am (as listed on the Archdiocesan directory — please confirm with parish)
History of the Parish and Church
The parish of Shirley was founded in 1934 when the Archdiocese of Birmingham acquired a Victorian house called 'Heathfield' on Stratford Road and opened it as a Mass centre served from St Augustine's, Solihull. A small permanent church was built on land behind the house in 1935 and remains on the site as the parish hall and nursery school. After Father Patrick ('Paddy') O'Mahony was appointed parish priest in 1962, he commissioned a much larger church to serve the growing Catholic population. Construction of the present building began with the laying of the foundation stone on 2 October 1965 and the new church was opened on 23 June 1967 at a cost of £84,000 including all works of art and furnishings; it was consecrated on 22 May 1988 and listed at Grade II by Historic England on 17 April 2015.
- Parish founded 1934 in 'Heathfield', Stratford Road
- First permanent church built 1935 (now parish hall/nursery)
- Father Paddy O'Mahony appointed parish priest 1962
- Foundation stone laid 2 October 1965
- New church opened 23 June 1967
- Church consecrated 22 May 1988
- Listed Grade II by Historic England on 17 April 2015 (entry 1419894)
Architecture, Art and Furnishings
Designed by Brian Rush (then of Rush, Granelli and Partners), the church is a striking Modernist response to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Its plan groups the congregation on three sides of a central high altar, seating about 600 with a further 200 in the gallery. Externally, handmade silver-grey brick, reconstituted stone dressings and a circular baptistery topped by a tall needle spire give the building a strong civic presence on Stratford Road. Inside, the furnishings are an integral part of the design: a bronze Risen Christ by Dame Elisabeth Frink, a font and carved work by Walter Ritchie — including a seven-ton Portland stone font placed on the altar platform before the walls were built — and stained and coloured glass by Tom Fairs, who had worked on the nave windows of Coventry Cathedral.
- Architect: Brian Rush (Rush, Granelli and Partners)
- Contractor: J & P Kelly Ltd
- Sculpture: Dame Elisabeth Frink (Risen Christ)
- Stone carving: Walter Ritchie
- Stained glass: Tom Fairs
- Materials: handmade silver-grey brick, reconstituted stone, bow-shaped steel trusses, glass-fibre spire
- Capacity: ~600 with a further 200 in the gallery
Father Patrick ('Paddy') O'Mahony and the Parish's Outreach Tradition
During his thirty years as parish priest (1962–1991), Father O'Mahony shaped the identity of Our Lady of the Wayside as a parish with a strong outward social mission. He established parish links with aid projects in India and Africa, sending money and goods from Shirley and receiving news back from the missions, founded Britain's first church-based Amnesty International group, and served on the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and as a governor of the Linacre Centre for the Study of the Ethics of Health Care. After his death in 1992 the parish set up the Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust to continue this charitable work; the trust remains an active part of parish life.
- Parish priest 1962–1991
- First church-based Amnesty International group in Britain
- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
- Governor of the Linacre Centre for the Ethics of Health Care
- Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust continues the work today
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Fr Andrew Franklin as Parish Priest, with Fr Steven Fleming as Assistant Priest (from 30 January 2025) and Rev Dr Sean Loone as Permanent Deacon. The parish office is staffed by secretaries Sue Cheshire and Juliet Ferrara. The clergy are supported by a large team of lay coordinators for safeguarding, liturgy, catechesis, the sacristy, the SVP, the Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust, the Divine Mercy group, RCIA and the Youth Group.
- Fr Andrew Franklin — Parish Priest
- Fr Steven Fleming — Assistant Priest
- Rev Dr Sean Loone — Permanent Deacon
- Sue Cheshire & Juliet Ferrara — Parish Secretaries
- Michelle Ashley — Safeguarding
- Chris Rolinson — Liturgy
- Bernie Hunt — Catechists
- Bill Rawson — Sacristy
- John Nolan — SVP President & Journey in Faith (RCIA)
- Maureen Jennings — Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust
- Paul Matthews — Divine Mercy group
- Ray McNally — Youth Group
- Ian Swancott — Treasurer
Ministries and Groups
Our Lady of the Wayside runs a wide range of lay-led groups covering social outreach, faith formation, liturgy and parish life. These include an active St Vincent de Paul (SVP) conference, the Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust (the parish's overseas aid arm, especially India and Africa), a Divine Mercy devotion group, the Journey in Faith (RCIA) programme, a Youth Group, a catechist team preparing children and adults for the sacraments, a children's Liturgy of the Word at the 11am Sunday Mass, a liturgy/music team led by Chris Rolinson, and a sacristy team.
- St Vincent de Paul (SVP) conference
- Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust
- Divine Mercy group
- Journey in Faith (RCIA)
- Youth Group
- Catechists (First Communion & Confirmation preparation)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (Sunday 11am, term time)
- Liturgy & music team
- Sacristy team
- Parish Safeguarding team
Sacraments
Arrangements for the Sacraments are made through the parish office. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard regularly on Saturday mornings and after the Vigil Mass (see confession times). Baptisms and marriages are arranged with the parish clergy, with Fr Andrew Franklin also serving as a Judge on the Birmingham Marriage Tribunal. Adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed into the Journey in Faith (RCIA) programme, and children prepare for First Holy Communion and Confirmation through the parish catechists.
- Reconciliation — Saturday 10:30–11:30am and after Vigil Mass
- Baptism — through the parish office
- Marriage — Fr Andrew Franklin also sits on the Birmingham Marriage Tribunal
- First Holy Communion & Confirmation — via the Catechists
- RCIA — Journey in Faith with John Nolan
- Anointing of the Sick — through the clergy
Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School
The parish is closely associated with its Catholic primary school on the same site on Stratford Road. The original school was founded in 1956 and has since been enlarged; it continues to be a feeder for the parish community. The current headteacher is Mrs Debbie Enstone.
- Catholic primary school on the parish site
- Originally founded 1956
- Headteacher: Mrs Debbie Enstone
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- St Augustine's, Solihull clergy (served mission from 1934)1934–1935
The Shirley mission was founded in 1934 as a Mass centre in 'Heathfield', served from the Church of St Augustine in Solihull before the first small church was built.
- Parish priest of Shirley (pre-1962)pre-1962
A small permanent church had been built on the site by 1935; Father O'Mahony was appointed as parish priest in 1962 to design and build the present church.
- Fr Patrick ('Paddy') O'Mahony1962–1991
Born 1925, ordained for Birmingham diocese 1949. Appointed parish priest 1962; commissioned the present church (opened 23 June 1967), founded the parish's India/Africa aid links, founded Britain's first church-based Amnesty International group, and served the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Linacre Centre. Died 1992 (30th anniversary marked in 2022). The Father O'Mahony Memorial Trust is maintained in his name.
- Fr Andrew Franklin2020–present
Born in Chester, studied at St Mary's College Oscott and the Catholic University of Leuven (BA Hons Applied Theology 2001, STB 2003, MA and JCL Canon Law 2015). Ordained 3 July 2004 at St Anthony's, Saltney. Previously assistant priest at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Llandudno (2004–07); parish priest of St Joseph's and hospital chaplain at Warwick Hospital and the Central England Rehabilitation Centre (2017–20). Judge on the Birmingham and Welsh Marriage Tribunals.
- Fr Steven Fleming2025–present
Assistant Priest at the parish as of 30 January 2025, listed alongside Fr Andrew Franklin on the Archdiocesan clergy page.
- Rev Dr Sean Loone
Permanent Deacon, married to Pam since 1981 with three sons. Background in education; teaches part-time at St Mary's College, Oscott and serves as assistant school chaplain. Areas of interest: Sacred Scripture and Christology; writes for Catholic periodicals including the Pastoral Review.