Church of Our Lady and St Peter, Leatherhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady and St Peter |
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The church from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | TQ 16900 56985 |
| Location | Leatherhead, Surrey |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | LeatherheadCatholics.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 6 November 1915 |
| Founder(s) | Fr Bernard Kelly |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary Saint Peter |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Goldie |
| Groundbreaking | July 1922 |
| Completed | 24 June 1923 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Epsom |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
The Church of Our Lady and St Peter is a Roman Catholic church located in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. It started as a small chapel during the First World War. Later, it grew to become a full Parish church for the local community.
You can find the church between Copthorne Road and Garlands Road, right where they meet St John's Avenue. It is the only Catholic church in Leatherhead. The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton oversees its activities.
Contents
Church History
The story of Catholic worship in Leatherhead in the 1900s began with Father Lippens in 1915. He worked as a chaplain at the nearby military hospital. After him, Father Bernard Kelly arrived. He started a special mission for Catholics in the area, calling it the St Peter Mission.
In November 1915, Father Kelly rented two rooms in a house nearby. He turned one of these rooms into a chapel. This was the first official Catholic place of worship in Leatherhead.
After the war, Father Francis Redaway took over from Father Kelly. He wanted to build a new, bigger church because more Catholics were moving to the area. He started a fund where people could donate money for the church's construction. A local businessman and newspaper owner, Sir Edward Hulton, 1st Baronet, became very interested. He helped pay for the new church building.
Building the Church
In July 1922, the church bought land for the new building. The first stone, called the foundation stone, was laid later that same month.
During the building process, there was a small disagreement. Sir Edward Hulton wanted the church to be named after St Mary, in memory of his sister who had passed away. However, Bishop Peter Amigo wanted the church to keep the name of the original mission, St Peter. In the end, they decided to name the church after both St Mary and St Peter.
The church's architect was Joseph Goldie (1882–1953). He came from a family of famous church architects. His father, Edward Goldie, and his grandfather, George Goldie, also designed many churches. George Goldie designed well-known churches like St Wilfrid's Church in York.
Inside the Church
The Church of Our Lady and St Peter officially opened on June 24, 1923. After it opened, beautiful stained glass windows were added. The Stations of the Cross were also put in. These are a series of images showing Jesus's journey to his crucifixion.
The stained glass windows in the church are special artworks by the artist Paul Woodroffe. The Stations of the Cross were created by Eric Gill. They are similar to the ones he made for Westminster Cathedral in 1914. The baptismal font, which is a basin used for baptisms, was made by John Skelton in 1928. John Skelton was Eric Gill's nephew.
Growth of the Parish
After World War II, starting in 1946, priests from the Leatherhead parish began traveling to nearby Ashtead and Fetcham. They went there to serve the Catholic communities in those towns. Soon after, Ashtead and Fetcham became their own independent parishes.
The Parish Community
The church has a strong connection with local schools. These include St Andrew's Catholic School and St Peter's Primary School. St Peter's School's goal is to make sure all children learn in a safe and welcoming Catholic environment.
The church holds three Sunday Masses. These services take place at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 6:00 PM. On Sundays, there are also Vespers (evening prayers) and Benediction (a special blessing) at 4:00 PM.
See also
