Church built in time of disease is 175 years old

An historic Black Country church built in the wake of a devastating cholera outbreak is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

The significant milestone for Holy Trinity RC Church in Bilston was marked by a special mass yesterday led by Bishop William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.

Parishioner Gerald Hanrahan, who helped organise the celebrations, said: "It was a fitting tribute to the history of the church and the work done recently by the people of the parish in refurbishing the building."

The cholera epidemic of 1832 killing 732 people in Bilston in just eight weeks.

As the town was without a church or cleric of its own, three priests were drafted in from Wolverhampton to help with the sick and dying.

They worked tirelessly among the victims and a petition was signed for Bilston to have its own incumbent priest.

Work to build the church in Oxford Street began in 1833.