Record

Repository	Archives of the Archbishop of Westminster
Ref No	AAW/DOW/PAR/22/1/3
Title	St Francis School: The Buntingford Venture
Date	1975
Level	File
Description	St Francis Special School for Mentally Defective Catholic Boys, as it was originally known, was established at a property called Hillside, London Road, Buntingford in 1919 as the successor to the Thurlby House Special School, Woodford Bridge. In 1933, it became St Francis House Boarding School. The School was financed by the Westminister Diocesan Education Fund and run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. In 1975, the Sisters had to close the School. The file contains a copy of a letter from Cardinal Heenan to Fr Carradori of the Sons of Divine Providence inviting the Order to take over the running of the School, and, in due course, the parish of Buntingford. The file also contains leaflets on 'The Buntingford Venture', a proposal by the Sons of Divine Providence to turn St Francis School into a short-stay holiday home for young people with mental disabilities. One of the leaflets includes a photograph of Bishop Butler inaugurating the Buntingford Venture, with Fr Paul Bidone, SDP, giving an address.
Format	Mixed
Language	English

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