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 | United Kingdom |
| 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 in Leatherhead, Surrey. It began as a small chapel during the First World War. Later, it became a full Parish church for the local community. You can find it between Copthorne Road and Garlands Road in Leatherhead. It is the only Catholic church in Leatherhead. The church is part of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
Contents
History of the Church
Starting the St Peter Mission
Catholic worship in Leatherhead began in 1915. This was when a priest named Fr Lippens arrived. He worked as a chaplain at the nearby military hospital. After him, Fr Bernard Kelly started a mission for Catholics in the area. He called it the St Peter Mission. In November 1915, he rented two rooms in a house. One room became a chapel, opening a place of worship.
After the war, Fr Francis Redaway took over from Fr Kelly. He wanted to build a new church. This was because more Catholics were moving into the area. He started a fund where people could donate money. A local businessman, Sir Edward Hulton, became interested. He helped pay for the new church building.
Building the New Church
In July 1922, land was bought for the church. The first stone was laid later that month. During the building, a disagreement happened. It was between Sir Edward and Bishop Peter Amigo. Sir Edward wanted the church named after St Mary. This was in memory of his sister. The bishop wanted it named after the original mission, St Peter. They finally agreed to name it after both St Mary and St Peter.
The church's architect was Joseph Goldie (1882–1953). His father, Edward Goldie, and grandfather, George Goldie, were also famous church architects. George Goldie designed churches like St Wilfrid's Church in York.
Inside the Church
The church opened on 24 June 1923. After it opened, beautiful stained glass windows were added. The Stations of the Cross were also put in. The stained glass windows are works by the artist Paul Woodroffe. The Stations of the Cross were made by Eric Gill. They are similar to his work in Westminster Cathedral. The baptismal font was created by John Skelton in 1928. He was Eric Gill's nephew.
After World War II
From 1946, priests from this parish traveled to Ashtead and Fetcham. They served the Catholic communities there. Soon after, those two places became their own parishes.
Community and Services
The church works closely with St Andrew's Catholic School and St Peter's Primary School. St Peter's School's goal is to keep children in a safe Catholic environment.
The church holds three Sunday Masses. These are at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 6:00 pm. There are also Vespers and Benediction at 4:00 pm on Sunday.
See also
