Reflections on a Survey of the Catholic Population of Aberystwyth

Extract

The Newman Demographic Survey in Wales started, unlike that in England, with a direct poll of the people of a Catholic parish. It had been hoped to parallel the work done in England on the records of parishes, dioceses, and certain public services. But it turned out that Catholics can be traced, when the public service records in question are kept in the form usual in South Wales, only by digging so far into the files as to violate professional secrecy. And there are many small parishes, above all in Menevia, where the danger that even the most discreet digger into ecclesiastical records may stir up gossip is greater than in,, say, Westminster. So a direct poll it had to be, and last winter a pilot poll was duly taken in the parish of Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth was chosen because it was isolated and with a small Catholic population; a manageable first sample, and with the advantage of containing a University College with an active and enthusiastic Catholic Society. The Bishop of Menevia gave his consent, and the survey was duly carried out by the Catholic students, led by Dr E. T. Nevin, Lecturer in Economics in the University, and with aid and comfort from the Very Rev. Fr Maguire, o.carm., Chaplain to the University Catholic Society. The survey forms were drafted at Cardiff in collaboration with Dr Nevin, and were duplicated at Cardiff. They were given out after Mass on Sunday, January 23rd, 1955, accompanied by a letter from Fr Maguire, at each of the Mass centres in the parish. Parishioners were asked to return them the following Sunday. In addition, other known Catholics were contacted at home. This was simple enough in Aberystwyth itself and the other small towns. In the open country, in the weather of February 1955, it was often a case of Dr Nevin leading his merry men (and girls) in a Good King Wenceslaus act up the snows of Plynlimmon. ‘You see that corner?’ said one farmer as the enumerators’ car turned for home. ‘I’ll be interested to see if you get round it.