Foundation

In 1795, Robert Cary Elwes, a family member of John Elwes, bought Billing Hall. In 1866, his grandson, Valentine Cary Elwes inherited the hall. He was the father of Gervase Elwes and Dudley Cary-Elwes, who was later the Catholic Bishop of Northampton. In 1874, the family converted to Catholicism. Shortly afterwards, a chapel was built in Billing Hall.^[2]

Construction

In 1878, Our Lady of Perpetual Help was built. It replaced the chapel in the hall and was paid for by Valentine Cary Elwes. It was built in the Romanesque Revival style and has a handcrafted copy of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help installed above the altar. In 1926, the aisles were added. In 1994, an aedicula was added to the Lady Chapel. It was built by Ormsby of Scarisbrick who also did work on Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Bognor Regis.^[2] On 8 September 2006, Peter Doyle the Bishop of Northampton made the church the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.^[3]

Buried in the church cemetery are Valentine Cary Elwes, Gervase Elwes, Bishop Dudley Cary-Elwes and Gervase's son and parish priest of Our Lady's Church, Monsignor Valentine Elwes.^[4]