The mission of the Dominican congregation to Leicestershire and Warwickshire began when Fr. John Clarkson, OP came to live in a house in the small village of Aston Flamville in 1734. Through his work and the pioneering ministry of Fr. Matthew Thomas Norton, the order took firm root in our district and was thereby responsible for the revival of the entire Dominican Order in our islands after the Reformation. The parish of St. Peter, Hinckley, the oldest in the Diocese of Nottingham was established by Fr. Norton on June 29, 1759; and he ministered to the Catholic population of Leicestershire and Warwickshire with great devotion until his death in 1800. Although the pastoral responsibility for the district was handed over to the Diocese of Nottingham in September 1989, the Dominican presence remains with us through St. Martin’s Catholic Academy in Stoke Golding.

On November 1st 2016, St. Dominic’s Community was formed by Bishop Patrick McKinney to incorporate the parishes of St. Peter, Hinckley, SS. Peter and Paul, Earl Shilton and Our Lady and St. Gregory, Market Bosworth, the latter two of which had been ministered to for over 40 years by the late Fr. Terry Fellows, a much-loved and respected priest in all of the district and diocese. Thus a ‘Team Ministry’ was established which has come to incorporate two working priests, Fr. Frank Daly and Fr. Chimezie Michael Eugene-Oguzie and two retired priests, Fr. John Lally and Fr. Michael Mason, as well as a pastoral assistant, Mrs. Marina Brooks, and three pastoral teams – one for each community comprising 8 members. There are three Finance Committees and three experienced Safeguarding Representatives, one for each community, as well as active involvement in Churches Together in Hinckley and Earl Shilton and Barwell, and Market Bosworth. St. Peter’s in Hinckley is also the home of SPANNED, the agency which has ministered to and with people with additional needs for nearly 50 years, in a unique manner which is not seen anywhere else.

It is only right, therefore that we commemorate annually the work of the successors of St. Dominic – priests, brothers and religious sisters (nuns) – and maintain the legacy they have left us. We do this by visiting the Chapel named after them in St. Peter’s Church, Hinckley and on the first weekend in June by visiting the grave of our founder, Fr. Norton, at Aston Flamville, as well as the graves of the priests, brothers and sisters in Hinckley Cemetery. Fr. Norton’s gravestone is of particular historical significance as it is situated in the Anglican churchyard with courteous and grateful words of admiration and respect to this remarkable man unmatched in what remained poenal times in England when in many places, the Catholic Church was still being suppressed.

In commemoration we pray that we will never fail the memory of all who have gone before us. In celebration we pray that we will always take delight in what we have and are because of them. In promise we pray that we will be true to the wonderful legacy we have received and live cheerfully and generously together in service of the truth.