At the second general parish meeting in 1968, it was announced that the Bishop had put the parish under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales - so we had been given an identity with a saint whose writings reflected the spirit of Vatican II. Shortly after this the parish formed joint Bible study groups with St. George's and so began a relationship with the Anglican community, which lasts to this day.

Meanwhile prayers and entreaties were going up for a permanent church site. These were answered when Warren Lodge and the adjoining property and barn came on the market.

By this time Fr. Thomas had left Newbury for Kidlington and Fr. King, also a Servite, who had stayed to oversee the closure of the Priory at Enborne, had taken his place. He was a priest of many skills, carpentry being just one, but the one soon to be in great demand.

Much to the delight of all, the first stage of the conversion of the barn into a church was ready in time for Midnight Mass, Christmas 1970. Many memories remain of that first Mass with snow falling outside.

On Sunday May 16th 1971, Bishop Worlock blessed the barn church in the presence of local clergy, Servite priests, local dignitaries and parishioners. He reminded all present that they were the living stones forming the Body of Christ - His Church on earth and exhorted all to cherish this new Church, drawing closer to Christ. Bearing this in mind Fr. Damian and parishioners set out to build a living Christian Community.

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