Our Stories

SS Peter & Paul Parish, Pype Hayes has been in existence for over 87 years. The original Church (now the Parish Hall) was built in the 1930's. The current Church was built and opened in September 1971.

​Many Parish Priests have served the Catholic Community of Pype Hayes including:

• 1929-1932 ​Fr. Patrick Moore

• 1932-1936 Fr. James Cregan

• 1936-1939 Fr. Ernest Cooke

• 1939-1940 Fr. Gerald Adams

• 1940-1942 Fr. Joseph Purcell

• 1942-1948 Fr. Charles Friel

• 1948-1956 Fr. Frances Woodward

• 1957-1962 Mgr. Hugh Montgomery

• 1962-1985 Fr. Bernard Robertson

• 1985-1997 Fr. John Steward

• 1997-2000 Fr. Kevin Preston

• 2000-2006Fr. Julian Green

• 2006-2014 Fr. John Batthula

• 2014-2015 Fr. Peter Madden

• 2015-2022 Fr. Joseph McLoughlin

• 2017-2022Fr. Michael Vaughan

• 2022-Present Fr. Prabhakar Pamisetty

St. Gerard's Church is situated on Yatesbury Avenue next to St. Gerard's Catholic Primary School. Before the church was built, during the 1970s, Mass was originally celebrated in the Parish centre. Even though it had encountered much financial debt, the church was granted permission from Archbishop Dwyer to proceed with the building in the spring of 1980.The Blessing and Opening of the Church was led by Bishop Leo McCartie, 22 December 1981. Fr Michael Knight became the second Parish Priest and remained in this position for over 35 years. Our green tower was a project that he was extremely proud of. He will always be remembered as someone who dedicated his life to serving others. All debts of the church were finally paid off during Fr Knights time as Parish Priest and on 21st June 2001, the church was consecrated by the Most Rev Archbishop Vincent Nicholls. Those of you who remember John Paul II’s visit to Coventry in 1982 will have your own memories of the day of this momentous occasions Here at St. Gerard’s, we have our own very piece of history from that day, because the altar (well, half of it at least) has graced our church for the last 30 years. It continues to be the focus of all of our masses and we feel a great sense of pride that this spiritual and historic altar form

The history of "Ss. Mary and John's" in Gravelly Hill centers on the Catholic Church and School, From the mid-nineteenth century the Catholics in this area were served from the church at Erdington, but a separate parish was erected in 1922. A school was opened in 1931 and a large new church seating 400 and presbytery completed in 1937, possibly from designs by Victor S. Peel. The church was consecrated in 1953. A south transept and substantial tower were added in 1961-2, from designs by G. B. Cox of Harrison & Cox.The striking church was completed in 1937 and later expanded with a prominent bell tower in 1961-62, The school has grown into a two-form entry, split-site primary school, serving the community for nearly a century.