Page 47 - Bulletin 13 2009

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Ireland, heard of his poverty, he bade him never to be without the price of a cow, as
long as he (the father) lived. So a cow was procured, and what milk was not needed for

the presbytery was sold.

As the parish reached from Diep River to the borders of Simon’s Town, all the pastor’s

journeys had to be made on horseback or in a light trap led by his horse, Larry. (All
Father’s horses were named Larry). He preached in Spanish every Sunday (with an Irish

brogue) and when English-speaking visitors were present, a second sermon followed in
English.

He built a Presbytery for himself c.1885 on the opposite side of the road to the original

St. James Church and soon thereafter built the St. James Mission School alongside the

Presbytery. Originally it was at the back of the old church in the vestry but was
transferred to the new site once the classes increased in number. Here Fr. Duignam

taught classes from 1885 until 1906. Class numbers varied from 50 to 73 and an

inspection report of 14 February 1894 indicated a class of 9 white pupils and 51
coloured pupils, who were mainly from the fishing community at Kalk Bay. Fr.

Duignam taught the pupils of the Mission School alone for many years with a salary
from the Education Department. After 1906 he still ran night classes for those children

who worked during the day. Classes extended to Standard Two.

Fr. Duignam was present at the sale of the old church to the Cape Government Railways

in 1900 and was instrumental in the building of the new Church, construction of which
began shortly after the sale. The price of £2000 was allocated to the building of this

church and Fr. Duignam commenced with his usual enthusiasm and vigour. His ideas
and those of architect Ransome blended into the beautiful building we have today. Fr.

Duignam was the main contractor, the clerk-of-works and the quantity surveyor, such
was his zest. He followed this success with the building of the Star of the Sea Convent

in 1906 (opened 1908) where once again he assumed full responsibility for the

construction, as well as the building of St. Agnes Church, Woodstock.