St.Mary's Sonnet Poem by Martin Ward

St. Mary's Sonnet
(Bridge Gate, Derby)

Born from Catholic Emancipation
and an influx of people of The Faith;
on Queen Victoria's Coronation,
the cornerstone of St. Mary's was laid.
A Gothic chapel once stood in this place,
so Augustus Pugin, (up-and-coming) ,
designed St. Mary's; the chapel replaced:
Pugin's first masterpiece is most stunning.
Cardinal Wiseman, with wisdom of words,
extolled the magnificence of this church:
'The greatest work of Catholics, ' he purred.
It stands lofty as a dove on a perch.
Some in the town, (now city of Derby) ,
saw it 'Papist' and thought it should not be.

St. Alkmund's 'spite' blocked St. Mary's from sight
for several Derby generations.
But the call of the car ended this blight,
giving St. Mary's emancipation!
Originally, an enormous spire
should have surmounted the present tower.
But fortunately, Pugin's failed desire
saved the church from catastrophic failure.
Our Mother Church is viewed with love
by those who have married, baptised, buried;
their lives linked from beginning to its close
and their faith it has nurtured and carried.
This church, whose dedication is apt,
bears witness to ecumenical acts.

Beautiful gem in Our Lady's fair crown,
shine a beacon of Christian equity.
Adornment of the Victorian town,
you stand in pride in the modern city.
Many people come to worship and pray,
or just view the masterpiece by Pugin.
Let us all pray there will come a great day,
and let there be no doubt or confusion:
your walls honour our great Padley Martyrs,
Blessed, Beatified: one day made Saints.
A second miracle may be chartered,
like our own fair church which may also plaint.
St. Mary's: Cathedral in all but name,
one day, such status this church may attain.