The Catholic Church
There were very few Catholics living in Raunds in 100 bit by 1926 the priest from Rushden came every Sunday to say Mass in a private house in Marshalls Road. His taxi fare cost £1 and the congregation subscribed this amount.
In 1948, the Travelling Mission of the Catholic Diocese of Northampton established a centre in Raunds but Mass was only provided, in a private house, once a year. At about this time, a bus was hired every Sunday to take the faithful to Mass at Rushden - the garage only charging one pound and ten shillings for this convenience. By 1967, the number travelling on a weekly bus had reached 40 and the Masses at Raunds, provided by the Travelling Mission, has increased to four per year held in various locations including different private houses and finally the Labour Hall.
A permanent Mass centre was obtained during 1967, by the purchase of a redundant Methodist chapel in Marshalls Road. After this, Father Rogan, a retired missionary priest from Rushden, celebrated Mass at 10:30am every Sunday. However, the following year, the Bishop of Northampton, the Rt. Rev, Charles Grant, set up a new parish consisting of St Paul's Church, Thrapston together with the newly acquired church in Raunds which had been dedicated to St. Thomas More. The first parish priest of the combined area was Fr. Stan Condon. The present incumbent is Fr. Brian Leatherland and assess are provided regularly on Saturday evenings in Thrapston at 6:30pm and on Sundays in Thrapston at 9:00am followed by Mass at 10:30am in Raunds.
Holy Day and week day Masses are advertised in the weekly bulletin or by application to the parish priest whose number, with answering service, is 01832 732772 or Mobile 07796 324526.