Aldershot Catholic Parish dates back to the 1860's when the Diocese of Southwark took over responsibility for the Catholic population of around 1000 from the Army Chaplains who had previously cared for them. In 1867 a school room was opened in the High Street for 48 children. This increased the following year to 67. As a result, in 1869 the Bishop of Southwark, The Right Reverend Thomas Grant appointed Fr Thomas Purcell as the first Priest in Charge of the Aldershot Mission District which extended to a circumference of some 60 miles! A disused Public House on the corner of Alexandra Road and Cambridge Road (now flats) opposite the former Franciscan Convent was formally opened as a combined chapel and school on 29th July 1869. Fr Purcell was forced to resign in 1871, his health broken by his labours, but not before he had purchased the plot of land on the corner of Queens Road and Edward Street where the current St Joseph's Church stands. In May 1882, the Diocese of Portsmouth was formed and Aldershot was moved from Southwark to become part of the new diocese. You can read more about the history of the parish here.