Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Englefield Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady of the Assumption |
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| Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Englefield Green | |
West side of church
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| 51°25′44″N 0°34′01″W / 51.428866°N 0.566813°W | |
| Location | Englefield Green, Surrey |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | PoEgham.wordpress.com |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Cuthbert Church |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Founder(s) | A. K. Rideout; refounded by Jurgens family |
| Dedication | Assumption of Mary |
| Dedicated | 20 September 1931 |
| Consecrated | 20 September 1931 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Goldie |
| Architectural type | Nave with small chapels and belfry tower |
| Style | Italian Romanesque |
| Years built | 1930 to 1931 |
| Groundbreaking | 25 October 1930 |
| Completed | 10 September 1931 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Cuthbert, Egham |
| Deanery | Weybridge |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic church located in Englefield Green, Surrey, England. It sits on St Cuthbert's Close, facing Harvest Road. This beautiful church was built between 1930 and 1931. It was designed by a famous architect named Joseph Goldie. Even though it's not a "listed building" (which means it's not officially protected for its history), experts from English Heritage have praised its design. They called it a "thumping great church" and said it was "better composed and more competently detailed than most" churches built in the 1930s.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings in Englefield Green
In 1903, a Catholic priest started visiting Englefield Green every week. He came from Twickenham to hold Mass for local Catholics. Mass was first held in a small iron chapel. This chapel was on the grounds of Sandylands, the home of Major General Arthur Kennedy Rideout. He also helped arrange travel for the priest.
Building a New Church
In 1907, a larger wooden church was built on Harvest Road. It was named St Cuthbert's Church. The small chapel from Sandylands was moved and attached to this new wooden church.
Later, in the late 1920s, a family named Gerard and Miriam Jurgens bought the land for a brand new church. They also paid for its construction. The first stone for the new church was laid on October 25, 1930. The church officially opened its doors on September 20, 1931.
The new church was designed in an Italian basilica style. The architect was Joseph Goldie, whose father and grandfather were also famous architects. The Jurgens family asked for the church to be dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady. After the new church was finished, the old wooden St Cuthbert's Church was attached to it. It then became the parish hall, a place for community events.
Church Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
The church is built like a basilica, which is a type of large hall building. It has a rounded area at the back called a sanctuary. A tower stands on the southeast side of the church. There are also small chapels on both sides, known as transepts. The entire building is painted white, and its roof is covered with Roman tiles. Next to the church, there is a priest's house to the east and the parish hall to the south. Both are also painted white, matching the church.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a main area called a nave. It has a narrow central aisle and smaller aisles on the sides. The entire inside of the church is painted with beautiful designs. Above the main altar, there is a large painting of the Assumption of Mary. This painting was created in the 1600s by a Spanish artist named Antonio Palomino. The church's organ was a gift from David Greig, who owned a supermarket chain.
The Parish Community
The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is part of the Saint Cuthbert parish. This parish also includes the Saint John of Rochester Church in Egham Hythe. Additionally, it serves the Catholic chaplaincy at the nearby Royal Holloway College, which is part of the University of London.
Here are the Mass times for the churches in the parish:
- St John of Rochester Church holds Mass at 6:00 pm on Saturday and at 9:15 am on Sunday.
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church holds Mass at 11:00 am on Sunday.
- Royal Holloway College holds Mass at 7:30 pm on Sunday.
Images for kids
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Interior
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Altar
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Organ
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
