Catholic Deanery of Eastbourne and St Leonards
St Joseph the Worker Finds a New Home at Our Lady of Ransom
The community of Our Lady of Ransom, Eastbourne, welcomed a newly installed statue of St Joseph the Worker on his feast day, 1 May. Following Friday morning Mass, Fr Kevin Dring and Fr Charles Ezejide led parishioners in procession to the church garden, where a decade of the Rosary was prayed before the blessing of the statue in its new home.
The occasion was particularly fitting as the Church celebrated St Joseph the Worker, patron saint of workers, fathers, pilgrims and carpenters. The installation of the statue was itself the result of the dedication, skill and generosity of a number of parishioners whose efforts have helped create a beautiful place of prayer and reflection.
The statue of St Joseph holding the Infant Jesus originally stood in a Catholic church in South East London. Around the time of the millennium, when the church underwent refurbishment, many of its furnishings, including statues and marble altars, were rehomed. St Joseph was subsequently adopted by professional sculptor Peter Clarke, who kept the statue in his studio workshop in North Kent for many years.
Following Peter’s retirement last year, a new home was sought for the statue. Eastbourne parishioner Jean Peterken welcomed St Joseph into her home and lovingly restored him, repainting the statue in the purple and yellow colours associated with the saint’s scapular devotion.
The statue now stands in “St Joseph’s Bower”, a special area within the parish garden that has recently been transformed by a team of enthusiastic volunteers led by parish music director Maura Phipps. Parishioner and maintenance man Mike Kelly created the tiled base on which the statue now rests, while the surrounding planting and garden improvements have created an attractive and peaceful setting.
The blessing of the statue on the Feast of St Joseph the Worker offered an opportunity to give thanks not only for the saint’s example of faithful service, but also for the many parishioners whose hard work brought this project to fruition. Their efforts have provided the parish with a lasting reminder of St Joseph’s quiet dedication and a welcoming space for prayer for years to come.
Many thanks to Jean Peterken for sharing this story with us. St Joseph is venerated as the patron saint of workers, pilgrims, fathers, and carpenters, you can find out more about him on the God Who Speaks website.
Saturday 4 July 2026 | Top | Home