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Description: Black and white photograph of members of the Carmelite Order. Sisters of the Carmelite Order from Presteigne were known as the ‘building nuns of Presteigne’ as they were subsequently styled by the local press, built the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Thérèse. The nuns purposely generated publicity to attract funds and the enterprise also became the subject of a Pathé news film. The nuns left the convent in 1988 but the church, now listed, still functions as the local Catholic church. 1970.

Description: Black and white photograph of nuns in work clothes repointing brick wall. They were Sisters of the Carmelite Order from Presteigne and for a while known as the ‘building nuns of Presteigne’ as they were subsequently styled by the local press, built the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Thérèse. The nuns purposely generated publicity to attract funds and the enterprise also became the subject of a Pathé news film. The nuns left the convent in 1988 but the church, now listed, still functions as the local Catholic church. 1970.

Description: Sisters of the Carmelite Order from Presteigne enjoying some satisfying block breaking work. The ‘building nuns of Presteigne’ as they were subsequently styled by the local press, built the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Thérèse. The nuns purposely generated publicity to attract funds and the enterprise also became the subject of a Pathé news film. The nuns left the convent in 1988 but the church, now listed, still functions as the local Catholic church. 1970.

Description: Black and white photo. Animals on the farm being attended to by a nun from the Carmelites. Sisters of the Carmelite Order from Presteigne were known as the ‘building nuns of Presteigne’ as they were subsequently styled by the local press, built the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Thérèse. The nuns purposely generated publicity to attract funds and the enterprise also became the subject of a Pathé news film. The nuns left the convent in 1988 but the church, now listed, still functions as the local Catholic church. 1970.

Description: Black and white photograph of four nuns from the Carmelite Order tending to animals. Sisters of the Carmelite Order from Presteigne were known as the ‘building nuns of Presteigne’ as they were subsequently styled by the local press, built the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Thérèse. The nuns purposely generated publicity to attract funds and the enterprise also became the subject of a Pathé news film. The nuns left the convent in 1988 but the church, now listed, still functions as the local Catholic church. 1970.

Description: A nun from the Order of Poor Clare’s spins wool in her convent cell in Bullingham. The nuns’ lives were very austere. They didn’t sleep in beds, but something like an arm chair that was as hard as nails. They sometimes had to ring the bell to alert neighbours or well wishers to the fact that they didn’t have any food and were in need of ‘charity’.

Description: Bishop John Eastaugh, on a pilgrimage around the diocese was to mark the 700 year celebrations connected with St Thomas de Cantilupe. He strides out on the lanes of Herefordshire with cassock flowing, staff to hand, and sturdy walking boots (donated by the county’s Special Air regiment).

Description: Father (later Canon) William O’Connor, a much-loved Irish Catholic priest at St Francis Xavier, served generations of local families. He spent a couple of years in a Welsh valleys, where he learned to speak fluent Welsh, and then came to Hereford and stayed all his life. Here on-lookers watch closely as the ball rolls down the skittle alley at St Mary's presbytery fete.

Description: Black and white photograph of two choirboys - and a dog - at the Holy Trinity church’s annual pet blessing, marked the feast day of St Francis of Assisi. It was a pretty major event in its day, at its height seeing the congregation swell from hundreds to thousands – and that doesn’t include pets. It even caught the attention of Pathe News, who claimed the annual animal Sunday blessing started a world-wide movement, with similar services springing up across the world. It was the inspired idea of Holy Trinity’s Reverend Snell, who was also Chairman of the local RSPCA branch. He started the tradition in the late 1940s. It was a spectacle unlike anything we are likely to see in Hereford today. Reverend Snell set the tone arriving for the service on horseback. He was followed through the doors of the church by hundreds of pet owners, dragging dogs, sheep, goats, ponies, or carrying parrots, mice, hamsters, even gold fish bowls. With limited space in the church, hundreds more waited outside listening to a public-address system. For one Sunday of the year, Holy Trinity was the place to be.

Description: Abbot Maurice Martin of Belmont Abbey was elected in 1955 and was Abbot for 12 years until 1967. He was born in Brazil to English parents. When he resigned through ill health, he became a parish priest in Lancashire. His portrait taken from this image hangs in the monk’s refectory at Belmont.

Description: Black and white photograph of a choir boy - and cat - at a service. Holy Trinity church’s annual pet blessing, marked the feast day of St Francis of Assisi. It was a pretty major event in its day, at its height seeing the congregation swell from hundreds to thousands – and that doesn’t include pets. It even caught the attention of Pathe News, who claimed the annual animal Sunday blessing started a world-wide movement, with similar services springing up across the world. It was the inspired idea of Holy Trinity’s Reverend Snell, who was also Chairman of the local RSPCA branch. He started the tradition in the late 1940s. It was a spectacle unlike anything we are likely to see in Hereford today. Reverend Snell set the tone arriving for the service on horseback. He was followed through the doors of the church by hundreds of pet owners, dragging dogs, sheep, goats, ponies, or carrying parrots, mice, hamsters, even gold fish bowls. With limited space in the church, hundreds more waited outside listening to a public-address system. For one Sunday of the year, Holy Trinity was the place to be.

Description: Black and white photograph of Catholic dignitaries visiting St. Mary's School, Lugwardine.

Description: THESE ARE NOT Benedictine Monks. Possibly Capuchin Franciscans friars. Brown habits. Beards and a hood that goes right down the back, a reform of the Franciscans. Location unknown.

Description: The enthronement of Hereford's 101st Bishop. More then 1400 people turn out to see Dr mark Hodson enthroned as Bishop of Hereford. The image shows the Bishop's procession from the palace to the cathedral. Appeared in the Western Mail June, 1962.

Description: Black and white photo. The enthronement of Hereford's 101st Bishop. More then 1400 people turn out to see Dr mark Hodson enthroned as Bishop of Hereford. The image shows the Bishop's procession from the palace to the cathedral. Appeared in the Western Mail June, 1962.

Description: Black and white photograph of Hereford Cathedral with clergy.

Description: Outdoor Church blessing: Belmont Abbey. Laying of the first stone of the new school building. Laying of the first stone of the Martin Building, it was the modern classroom block, they put up at the beginning if 59/60. In the photo is Abbot Maurice Martin, after whom the block was named. On on the left is Brother Mark Jabalé and on the right Brother Augustine Kinrade. Brother Mark was to become headmaster of the school and Abbot of Belmont from 93 to 2000. In 2000 he became a Bishop in Wales.

Description: Sister Antonia Andrade enters the Order of the Poor Clares from their former base in Bullingham.

Description: Black and white portrait study of a priest.

Description: Sister Benedicta entered the Poor Clare's Convent fresh from Birkenhead as a 20-year-old. In this image she marks her 50th anniversary. In her fifty years with the Poor Clare's, she only stepped outside the convent three times for medical appointments. On those rare occasions, she was shocked by the mini skirts and was scared to cross the road because of the traffic. Appeared in The Sunday Mirror, 9th July 1972 with the headline ‘Sister Van Winkle’s Jubilee’.