During James II's reign, a "Mass House" was opened in Exeter, which was demolished in 1688. After 1745, Mass was said in an upper back room of King John's Tavern, in South Street. From Christmas 1775 part of "St. Nicholas" mansion was rented and a large upper chamber transformed into a Chapel. Later, the premises were purchased and a proper chapel built. On Epiphany Sunday 1792, the first Mass was offered in the new chapel, in the Mint, close to the remains of the pre-Reformation priory of St. Nicholas.
The present Church of the Sacred Heart is built on the site of the famous Bear Tavern, the former town house of the Abbots of Tavistock, which was leased out as an inn. The foundation stone for the Church was laid by Bishop Vaughan in 1883. The solemn opening took place on November 18th 1884, on the feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul.
The Church of the Sacred Heart has its own website here.
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church, built to serve parishioners in the St Thomas area of Exeter, closed in 2002.
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