Cathedral of St Michael and St George, Aldershot Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael and St George Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Michael and St George

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Location	Aldershot, Hampshire
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Official website: https://web.archive.org/web/20100723200543/http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/Catholic-Church/The-Church-in-England-and-Wales/bishopric_of_the_forces
Architecture
Style	Romanesque
Years built	1892
Specifications
Number of spires	1
Administration
Diocese	Bishopric of the Forces

The Cathedral Church of St Michael and St George is a special Roman Catholic church in Aldershot, England. It's the main church for the Bishopric of the Forces, which looks after Catholic soldiers, sailors, and air force members.

This building is on Queens Avenue. It was first meant to be the main church for the Anglican (Church of England) chaplains of the British Army. But since 1973, it has been the main church for the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Forces.

History of the Cathedral
Building and Inside the Church
Gallery
See also

History of the Cathedral

Clergy and officers at the consecration of St George's Garrison Church (1893)

The church was designed in 1892 by Ingers Bell and Aston Webb. They worked for the War Office. The church was built by J. Davey of Brentwood. It was first named St George's.

It was planned to be the main church for the Anglican chaplains of the British Army. Because of this, Queen Victoria herself laid the first stone. This happened on June 27, 1892. The special tools she used are now on display inside the cathedral.

St George's was officially opened on October 7, 1893. The Bishop of Winchester, Rt. Rev. Anthony Thorold, led the ceremony. Queen Victoria and other members of the royal family were there.

At that time, Catholic soldiers worshipped in a different church. It was called the Church of St Michael and St Sebastian. This church was built in 1855. It was a large wooden building, almost like a barn.

By the early 1970s, the Anglican chaplains didn't need St George's church as much. The Church of England had two other churches nearby that were not fully used. At the same time, the number of Catholic soldiers was growing. So, in 1973, St George's became the main church for the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Forces. It was then renamed St Michael and St George.

The old wooden Church of St Michael and St Sebastian was no longer needed. It was used as an Army storage building for a while. Sadly, it burned down in 1983.

The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) has a special connection with this church. They hold a memorial service there every July. The RASC's Chapel of Remembrance is inside the cathedral. It holds memorials and books to remember those who served.

Building and Inside the Church

Frieze of St George over the main doors

The sanctuary

The cathedral is a long building made of red bricks. It has Portland stone details and a tall tower. A red-brick spire sits on top of the tower. This makes it a very noticeable building in the area. Above the main entrance, there is a carving of Saint George standing over a dragon.

Inside, the church has yellow bricks. It has wide side areas called aisles and a large main area called the nave. The nave has five sections with arches in an Early English style. Above these arches are smaller windows.

On the south side aisle, you can see red marble plaques. These plaques remember members of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) who died between 1882 and 1920. The cathedral also has many beautiful stained glass windows. They show saints and stories from the Bible. These windows were made by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

One window in the RASC Memorial Chapel is dedicated to Julia Horatia Ewing. She was a writer who wrote about the daily lives of soldiers in Aldershot. Some of the stained glass windows don't quite fit their spaces. This is because they were moved here from the old Church of St Michael and St Sebastian in 1973.

The east end of the church is very decorative. It has a rich mosaic from the 1930s. This mosaic shows the Last Supper. This part of the church is different from the simpler area around the altar. The East Window, above the altar, remembers the RASC men who died in the Second Boer War (1899–1902). There are also plaques in this area for the 376 men who died. The window shows scenes like The Ascension and The Crucifixion.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was built in 1998. It is on the south side of the nave. The brass panels in this chapel used to be part of the altar rail in the old Church of St Michael and St Sebastian. The Lady Chapel has a beautiful mosaic. It remembers the Army Chaplains who died in the Second Boer War.

The furniture in the chancel (the area around the altar) is simple and modern. The bishop's special chair is a plain wooden seat. The cathedral is sometimes used for music concerts.

The chapel dedicated to the Royal Army Service Corps

The main organ was built by Hele & Co in 1908. It cost £950. However, this organ is not used anymore. This is mainly because asbestos was found in the organ pipe area. The organ used now is an Allen organ. It used to belong to a famous organ player named Carlo Curley. The church got it in 2014 after he passed away.

The wooden screens for the two side chapels were carved by Robert 'Mouse' Thompson. You can spot his special mouse carving on each screen.

In 2015, a special crucifix was placed in the cathedral. It was made from parts of 23 aircraft, from the 1930s to today. A blacksmith named Chris Raw made it. It was described as a meaningful link to those who serve in the Royal Air Force.

The cathedral was given a special status in 1979. It is a Grade II listed building. This means it is important for its architecture and history.