Soon there was another call to
cross oceans yet again and make a new foundation. Captain Dewell, an
Anglican by faith and a native of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England, was a
commissioned officer in the Highland Regiment stationed in India. He had
contact with the Fathers of St Francis de Sales and the Sisters of St Joseph
in India. He felt drawn to the Catholic Church and whilst on leave in Rome
he was received into the Catholic Church.
He returned to India with the
intention of resigning his commission and entering the Jesuits. Before doing
this he wished to bring the Catholic faith to the people of his native
Wiltshire. He discussed this possibility with the Fathers of St Francis who
advised him to contact the Bishop of Clifton in whose diocese Malmesbury was
situated. He did this, offering to finance the establishment of a Catholic
Mission in Malmesbury, staffed by the Fathers and also accepting the Sisters
of St Joseph into his Diocese to work alongside the priests.
Captain Dewell did resign his
commission and returned to England with Fr Larive MSFS arriving in
Malmesbury on the 27th May 1861. Contrary to his orders his house
which was to be given to the Sisters had been leased for six years! Fr
Larive set up his mission in Chippenham and later in Devizes.
