1865 Knowle was a district in the Parish of St.John, Bedminster. Father Eland who was the Vicar of St.John's and Father Turton who was assisting Father Ward at St.Raphael's, considered that as Knowle was a fast growing district, a Church should be provided. A meeting was held and an appeal for funds made, with the result that a wooden Mission Church was erected about half way along where Sydenham Rod now stands. Mr. Thomas Harding and Mr. H.J. Feltham (Senr.) were appointed as Pro-Wardens.
Father Ward (re Vestments) and St.Raphael's was closed. At a meeting of protest which was held, Father Ives supported Father Ward on the Platform. The Bishop (1) ordered the Baldachino to be taken down and (2) refused to consecrate the Church if Father Ives remained. Appeals were made to the Bishop to alter his decision, but he refused to do so. The Hon. Hanbury Tracy, a curate at All Saints, Clifton, was made the first Vicar and his institution to the living and consecration of the Church took place at the same time.
At the Vestry Meeting, the Vicar reported that two new Sunday Schools had been opened, one at the new Mission Room at Upper Knowle, and the number of children attending them had reached nearly 1,000. Miss Palairet had promised a sum of £700 for the provision of a side aisle, in memory of her mother. This became the Lady Chapel. He also reported the building of the Vicarage and the Hall. The Vicarage is now St.Elizabeth's Home.

1885 Mr Thomas Harding resigned as Churchwarden and Mr.E.J.Thatcher was appointed in his place.

1886 Father Hanbury Tracy appointed to St.John's Frome. Father Dunlop appointed Vicar. It was reported that a suitable site at Pylle Hill had been secured for a Mission Room.

1887 Trouble with the Organ upon which they had spent £108. A sum of £353 had been raised towards the scheme for the building of the Church at Pylle Hill.

1888 The Vicar spoke of the Parochial Hall and asked that he may be relieved of the pecuniary obligations which its existence as part of the Parochial machinery involved.

1889 The Organist (Mr.Thompson) had resigned. Mr.Haydyn Cox was appointed in his place. £620 had been received towards the building of the Pylle Hill Mission Church, which was nearing completion.

1890 The building of St.Katharine's was completed with Fr.Watson as Priest in Charge.It was reported that Lord Temple had given a 1/4 acre of land at Upper Knowle for a site for a Mission Room, and £270 had been collected towards the building. Father Davies left. Mr.Haydn Cox the organist resigned and Mr.C.W.Stear was appointed. Miss Clark died; she had presented the Church with the Font and in her Will left £500 for the completion of the Baptistry. She also left £500 to St.Katherine's Church. The Schoolroom beneath St.Katherine's had been completed and furnished at a cost of £120. The site at Upper Knowle had been fenced ready for building.

1891 Father Stafford had returned to Knowle (after 10 years). Father Wintle had also joined the staff. Mr.John Gill was appointed as Verger. The Baptistry was completed. The Church (wooden) at Upper Knowle had been completed and dedicated to St.Martin. Cost £488 12s 8d. Father Stafford in Charge. Doctor Hardman of Yatton presented a Font to St.Katherine's. It had previously been in Barrow Gurney Church.

1893 Father Braddon, recently ordained, came to Knowle. Debt on St.Martin's was cleared and a Schoolroom built at a cost of £228. Father Walters came. Father Parsons went to Crantock, Cornwall.

1895Father Walters left. Father Stafford left owing to his wife's illness. Father Wingfield was appointed Priest in Charge of St.Martin. It was reported that the Parish Church had now been completed leaving a debt of £527 which they hoped to repay with a Bazaar. Two generous people had provided Choir Stalls. A handsome cared Oak Lectern had also been presented.

1897 Bishop Browne appointed to Bristol Diocese. Re-erection of Baldachino and carving of Pillars and Stations of the Cross put in hand. Organ enlarged at a cost of £218. The Rev.Dr.Ruddock and Father Wilkins joint staff.

1899 Father Watson went to St.Raphael's. Father Gent came to take his place. Father Dunnett came.

1901 Building of permanent Church of St.Martin's finished and consecrated by the Bishop on 23rd of April. Debt of £450. Mr.Feltham (Senr.) resigned as Churchwarden. Edward Feltham appointed in his place.

1905 Illness and subsequent resignation of the Vicar, Father Dunlop. Death of Mr.H.J.Feltham (Senr.). Father Wingfield appointed Vicar. Father Robins succeeded him at St.Martins. Dr. Ruddock resigned and Father Land and Father Freeman came.

1906 Mr.E.J.Thatcher resigned as Churchwarden. Mr.Brookhouse Richards appointed.

1907 Two houses purchased for Bath Road Mission. Father Dunlop died. St.Martin's became a separate Parish. Father Gent went to St.Simon's and Father Shellard took his place.

1908 Father Anderson came. Father Dunnett's illness and death. Knowle Mayfair held in the grounds of Firfield House.

1909 Father Shellard left and Father Carew came. Father Lane went to St.John's.

1910 Father Bannister and Father Freeman came. Side door to Sacristy constructed.

1911 Mr.Stear resigned as organist and Mr.Baker took his place. A Memorial was erected to the late Father Dunlop in the form of the Lady Altar Reredos depicting the Adoration of the Magi by Hans Memling. The Marble Steps and the Memorial Brass were given by his sister at this time.

1912 Electric Light installed in the Church.

1913 Death of Father Wingfield, Fr.Talbot Parker appointed Vicar. Vestry Meeting (with no Vicar) elected two People's Wardens. Father Nash came.

1914 War. Bishop resigned. Vicarage sold for £2,500 to the Sisters of Charity.

1917 Mr.Brookhouse Richards resigned. Mr.A.R.Cox appointed Churchwarden. Father Bannister left.

1919 Vestry Meeting moved to evening. Ladies present for the first time.

1920 Mr.A.R.Cox resigned. Mr.J.J.W.Stokoe appointed Churchwarden. Father Rothwell came.

1921 Father Rothwell and Father Mackie left. Father Smith came to take their place. A Rood was placed in the Church dedicated to the memory of the men of the Parish who died in the Great War. The names were inscribed on a brass tablet on the wall of the Lady Chapel. Father J.Parsons assisted owing to shortage of Clergy.

1925 Provision of an Aumbry for Reservation of Blessed Sacrament. Mr.Mapowder appointed Organist.

1927 Vicar's illness and resignation. Father Nash in charge. Father Wynne appointed Vicar. Father Nash left in November and Father Philimore came. Father Smith resigned and Father Atchley came. Father Bazell appointed to St.Katharine's.

1928 Death of Mr.J.W.Stokoe. Mr.W.Evans appointed as Churchwarden. Father Atchley presented the Scout Hut.

1929 Purchase of a house for St.Katharine's, 26, Lilymead Avenue. Bazaar resulted in a profit of £750.Mothers' Union Branch formed. Mrs. W.Evans was appointed as Enrolling Member.

1930 Father Woods came. Church Roof reslated at a cost of approx. £600. Death of Mr. Edward Feltham. Mr.Brookhouse Richards Vicar's Warden. Debating Society formed, also Badminton Club, Tennis Club and Young Men's Club.

1931 Tower built. Bells, Clock and Sacristy added.

1932 Mr.Brookhouse Richards resigned. Mr.F.Bellamy elected Churchwarden. Dedication of Tower and Bells 16th January. The Tower, Bells and Clock were the gift of the late Mr.Feltham in memory of Fr. Ives. Bazaar raised £440.

1933 Mr.W.Evans resigned. Mr.L.Stokoe elected Churchwarden. Father Bazell and Father Woods left. Father Atchley came to St.Katherine's. Father Buchan and Father Piper came. Mr.Way was appointed Verger.

1934 Mr.F.Bellamy resigned. Mr.H.A.Hargest elected Churchwarden. Industrial Guild formed. Organ was removed and rebuilt.

1935 Mission conducted by Father Seyzinger, Father Jackson and Father Nicholls

1936 Organ dedicated by Bishop Mounsey. Recital by Mr.Ralph Morgan.

1937 r.Hargest resigned. Mr.W.H.Hutton appointed. Mr.Stear died. New Chapel furnished, Statue of Our Lady given by Miss Saunders in memory of Miss E.Brown. The Organ Fund reached £1,071 3s 6d. Bazaar raised £758.

1938 Mr.W.H.Hutton resigned and Mr.A.L.Blacker elected Churchwarden.

1939 Four windows given for new Chapel. Two by the late Mr.J.J.Clibbens and two by Mrs Shanklin in memory of her parents (Mr. & Mrs. Alderson). Extension Communion Rails as Memorial to Miss Ward.

1940 Church destroyed by enemy action. Services at House of Charity and St.Katherine's. Father Buchan went to the R.A.F.

1941 Father Piper and Father Atchley left. Father Leigh and Father Rogers joined staff in August 1941. Parochial Hall fitted as Church and services commenced in August.

1942 Gifts of furniture from St.Raphael's, St.Augustine's and Pembroke Nursing Home for use in the temporary church. The Organ Fund reached £2,047. Balance due £144.

1943 The Organ Fund completed, £1,000 to Restoration Fund.

1944 Mr.A.L.Blacker resigned. Mr.L.Mizen was elected Churchwarden

1945 The Youth Association formed; Father Leigh chaplain. Mr.L.J.Stokoe resigned and Mr.F.C.Clynick elected Churchwarden. Father Rogers left. Father Irvine and Father Wilkins came (St.Katharine's). Death of Mr.T.A.Richards.

1947 Mr.L.Mizen and Mr.F.C.Clynick resigned. Mr.F.E.Pring appointed Vicar's Warden and Mr.A.C.Staples People's Warden. Mrs.Nicholls resigned as caretaker of St.Katharine's. Temporary Church was licensed for Marriages and known as the Chapel of the Holy Nativity. Loan of an Organ from St.Mary Redcliffe. Mens Association formed. Death of Mr.F.A.Webber. Mr.Clark appointed as Auditor.

1948 Father Irvine and Father Wilkins left. Father Bell and Father Judge came. Presentation to the Vicar of a Silver Chalice on his 25 years in the Priesthood. Scouts celebrated their 21st Birthday. Father Tayler came on to the staff on part time duties.

1949 Father Leigh left. Owing to Vicar's illness Mr.Pring took chair at Annual Meeting.

1950 Father Bell left. All Saints Weston-super-Mare gave £350 for Restoration Fund. Father Goodier came and Father Judge left.

1951 Literary and Debating Society and Guides 21st Birthdays.

1952 Mr.F.Pring resigned. Mr.H.Small elected Churchwarden. Father Goodier ill. Father Allen came.

1953 Father Chappell and Father Burton came as assistant priests.

1954 Mr.A.C.Staples resigned. Mr.A.Cross elected Churchwarden. Cannon Nash died in October and Father Parker and Mr.J.J.Clibbens in December. Restoration work on the new church started 5th July.

1955 Mr.Way the verger retired. Foundation Stone of the new Church laid on Whitsun Eve 28th May. Properties at Wells Road and Knowle Road left to the Church.

1956 Vicar's illness. Father Tayler, Chaplain of the Convent in charge of the parish. Father Chappell resigned to join U.M.C.A.

1957 Mr.H.Small resigned. Mr. L.J. Stokoe elected Churchwarden. Mr.A.C.Hone appointed Treasurer.

1958 Mr.A.Cross and Mr.L.J.Stokoe resigned. Mr.H.Bunting appointed Vicar's Warden and Dr.A.Taylor elected People's Warden. Temporary Church closed on the 19th January. Consecration of the new Church, 25th January (Feast of the Conversion of St.Paul). White Cope given by the Misses Williams, Mr.Tull appointed Verger.Windows given by Mr. & Mrs.Graham, Miss Richards and Mrs.Cocks and family. Vicar resigned in December (first for 72 years to another Parish). Young Wives' Group started. First meeting October.

1959 Dr.A.Taylor resigned. Mr.S.J.Graham elected People's Warden. The Revd.J.S.E.Harris inducted as Vicar after interregnum of ten months. Christmas Market raised £680 for Restoration Fund. Father Scott joined staff. Bath Road Mission closed.

1960 Death of Canon G.W.L.Wynne at Clifford. Funeral at Holy Nativity, January 30th. Mr.H.Bunting resigned as Churchwarden. Mr.K.Cooke elected with Mr.S.J.Graham. Ernest Stroud ordained Deacon at Wakefield Cathedral. Death of Mr.A.C.Staples. Parochial Church Council passed a resolution to hold a Stewardship Campaign and to enlist the services of Planned Giving Ltd.

1961 Stewardship Campaign, 500 families visited. Mr.S.J.Graham resigned as Churchwarden. Mr.D.Mills elected with Mr.K.Cooke. Father Scott left Knowle. Father Vick took his place.

1962 Sudden death of Mr.S.J.Graham. Memorial to Canon G.W.L.Wynne dedicated by the Bishop of Crediton. Parochial Hall redecorated and used for a Social gathering on this occasion.

1963 Dedication of a Stained Glass Window in memory of Winifred Saunders. Mr.D.Wright elected Churchwarden with Mr.K.Cooke. Resignation of Mr.A.V.Tull as verger and appointment of Mr.A.Evans. Stewardship Development Campaign held.

1964 Death of Mr.L.J.Stokoe. Father Harris celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination. A pair of Silver Candlesticks were given in memory of the Misses Hilda and Beatrice Owen. Start of the 10a.m. Mass on Sunday.

1965 Gift of two clergy stalls by the family of Mr.L.J.Stokoe. Mr.Percy Mapowder resigned as organist after 20 years service. Mr.Philip Johnson appointed.

1966 The vicar was still Fr Harris who lived in the Holy Nativity Vicarage on the Wells Road at 217 to be precise. Messrs Cooke and Wright were Church Wardens in this year. The magazine for 1966 was a very high quality letter press publication printed by T&W Goulding in Easton with Church Union inserts were used and entitled "Headway". Everything looked contented and happy at Holy Nativity in the new year of 1966..

Jan 1966 This month started with a week of prayer for Christian Unity taking place from the 18th to the 25th. The Hon Treasurer reported that the Christmas fair raised in total £119 19s 6½d. Mr A.H. Cross was the secretary of the Holy Nativity Men's association and he proudly announced that none other than Mr. Jeremy Carrad of BBC Points West would be giving a talk on TV production.

Feb 1966 February saw a report that Fr. Ernest Stroud had been appointed vicar in Chelmsford. An appeal on behalf of the Bellringers was started details of which Fr Harris said were posted in the porch. Following the success of the BBC personality the Men's Association, in keeping with their interest in television, announced that they had a visit arranged to the TWW TV centre in Brislington.

March 1966 Changes to the way we conduct the Mass is not a new thing and on the 6th of March a number of changes to the Mass were introduced. I can imagine that there would have been some people who did not relish the change and would have privately grumbled. The Vicar let everyone know that help was on hand in the form of two publications - "The Western Rite Revised" at 6d and the "Alternative Service Second Series" was available at 12s 6d from SPCK.
The Annual Church Meeting was held on the 28th March and the Vicar was hoping for a big turn out.
The Mother's Union and the Young Wives groups met frequently during March and the Holy Nativity Men's Association witnessed a "Live" version of the popular Quiz show of the day, Mr. & Mrs. No recordings in those days at the TWW studios!
Mr. W.G. Cocks reported that the Bellringers had rung a peal of 5088 changes of LESSNESS Surprise Major in 2 hours 49 min. This was to mark the 8th anniversary of the rebuilding of the Church.

April 1966 Extensive Holy Week celebrations were noted in this month Magazine and the Vicar reprinted some of the salient points for the congregation to assist them with the new Mass. There were 5 baptisms and 2 Weddings reported in the Church and the Bristol Trustee Savings Bank was offering a great deal on the back page of the magazine of 2½% on Ordinary Accounts and 5% on Special Accounts.

May 1966 As 1966 was not a computerised age; these magazines were still being letterpress printed, where the type has to be "set". This means that the lead times were longer, a lot longer than today. For interest it was not until November of this year that the printing method was changed to Litho. The Magazine had the report of the Annual Meeting, a magnificent report. The congregation were told that the introduction of the 6:30am Mass had been very successful and the Mass changes had been well received. On a sadder note 9 of the congregation had died but better news was that Holy Nativity had 19 candidates for Confirmation. Fr. Harris complained about the numbers attending the meeting but felt that the competition for places on the Council was a lot better than pervious years.

June 1966 June was a problematical month at Holy Nativity; grave concern over the number (and presumably quality) of Choir Boys was expressed and a new order of Mass was being distributed. More headaches for Mr. Jack Bowden who ran the Sunday Transport he was seeking more volunteer drivers for his scheme.
June 25th saw the Glastonbury Pilgrimage start at 05:45am with Breakfast in the Rooms.
There were 211 Communicants on Easter Day.

July 1966 The Vicar announced that there would be a stained glass window dedicated to Maurice Ricketts who was killed in North Africa in 1940 and also Mr. & Mrs Ricketts the Father and Mother of Maurice. The window was being donated by Mr. Norman Ricketts.
The Summer Festival was announced and that this would be held in the grounds of the Sisters of Charity on week commencing 3rd July.

Aug 1966 The big news in August was that a Cruise to The Holy Land was being proposed in 1967. Leaving from Southampton it was going to be 26 days long and cost 143 gns! For our younger readers that is £1 1s = 1 Gn.

September 1966 One of the biggest economic calamity of the decade befell Britain in September 1966 as the Government had to impose a complete wage freeze.Harold Wilson's second term of government was dogged by economic difficulties and in the face of strong competition from abroad struggled to keep afloat. Prayers were said in Church and the Vicar asked for Prayers for the Government. Again that solid spirituality of the people of Holy Nativity came shining through.

The end of 1966 Spiralling costs had forced the Vicar to try and go for a less expensive printer and in the November issue the printers had changed. Still the same format as now - Litho printed covers and typewritten and duplicated by Roneo machine.
The magazine reported that the Ricketts Memorial Window was in place.
The cover of the magazine had changed at this point to a tasteful painting of the Holy Nativity.