Church of St James, Twickenham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St James, Twickenham |
|
|---|---|
| Roman Catholic Church of St James in Twickenham | |
The church hall in Radnor Road
|
|
| 51°26′31.48″N 0°20′8.16″W / 51.4420778°N 0.3356000°W | |
| Location | 61 Pope's Grove, Twickenham TW1 4JZ |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Founder(s) | Cardinal Henry Edward Manning |
| Dedication | 25 July 1885 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | J S Hansom and Charles George Keogh |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1885 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | London stock brick |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Upper Thames |
| Diocese | Diocese of Westminster |
The Church of St James, Twickenham, is a Roman Catholic church located at 61 Pope's Grove, Twickenham. It is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The church is named after St James the Apostle. It is considered a special building that adds to the beauty of the area.
The church first opened in 1885. Cardinal Henry Edward Manning officially dedicated it in 1887. Before the church was built, Catholic services were held in a place on Grosvenor Road in Twickenham.
A famous Catholic poet named Alexander Pope lived nearby from 1718 until 1744. He gave his name to Pope's Grotto, which connects St Catherine's School and Radnor House school.
The Church of St James is a "Gothic Revival" style building. This means it looks like churches from the 13th century. James de Lacey Towle paid for the church, which is why it is dedicated to St James.
Inside the church, you can see several paintings. One is a copy of a famous painting by Raphael, showing the Madonna and child. Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff gave it to the church around 1900. Another painting shows St James 'Matamoros' (conqueror of the Moors). Vicente de Arroyabe painted it in 1995, and a church member, Mrs Evelyn Dunning, donated it. There is also a painting of the church itself by Hilda van Stockum, a Dutch writer and artist.
The ceiling above the altar has carvings of the fleur de lys. This symbol shows the support the church received from the French Royal Family. They lived in the area for many years. A side altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart also shows the church's connection to France. Princess Marie-Amelie of Bourbon-Orleans was born in York House, Twickenham in 1865. She married King Carlos of Portugal. Their son, King Manuel II, became a big supporter of the church. He moved to Twickenham after leaving Portugal in 1910.
Portuguese Connections
King Manuel II of Portugal lived in Fulwell Park and was an important member of the church. He regularly attended services and was active in local events. During the First World War, he supported the Allied countries. He also worked to help people suffering from the war. He and his wife, Queen Victoria Augusta, were godparents to many children at their Confirmation at St James's.
King Manuel donated two windows at the front of the church. One window is for St Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon, Portugal. It has the royal crest in the corner. The other window is for St Edmund of Abingdon, an Archbishop of Canterbury from 1233 to 1240. This window was put in memory of Canon Edmund English, who passed away in 1924. King Manuel also opened the Parish Hall in Radnor Road in December 1927.
After King Manuel passed away in 1932, the church received several special items from his family. These included silver containers and a special cup with the King's initials. Queen Victoria Augusta also gave the church the organ that the King used to play at his home. The organ stopped working in the 1990s. Its main pipes and the upper wooden parts, which show the Portuguese royal arms, can still be seen in the old choir area.
In 2009, the church's connection to Portugal was made stronger. A memorial to King Manuel II and Queen Augusta Victoria was placed on the right side of the altar area. Councillor Celia Hodges, the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, unveiled it. Bishop George Stack, who was then an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, dedicated it. HRH Dom Miguel of Portugal, a relative of the late King, and the Portuguese Ambassador Antonio Santana Carlos placed a wreath there. This wreath honored the Portuguese people who died in the First World War.
New Projects and Support
With help from the Anglo-Portuguese Society and other Portuguese community members, a project began. It aimed to install new stained glass windows to honor the Portuguese who died in the First World War. It also recognized King Manuel's helpful work while he was in exile. The church was redecorated at this time.
Two new glass windows were created by Caroline Benyon. They were blessed and dedicated on April 9, 2018. Field Marshal Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank and the Portuguese Ambassador Manuel Lobo Antunes led the ceremony. Bishop John Wilson blessed the windows and celebrated a church service. Music was provided by the Portuguese choir of Camden Town and the church's own choir. Local military reservists formed a guard of honor.
In May 2018, a group of Portuguese politicians visited the church. They gave the church a special plate to remember the new Portuguese Constitution of 1976. On the first anniversary of the windows' installation, the Portuguese Ambassador unveiled a special plaque.
There were once plans to build a statue of King Manuel II in Radnor Gardens. This was to recognize his important contributions to St James' Parish and Church. It also honored his help during the war and his care for war victims.
Parish Life and Community
The St James Parish grew as Catholic schools were built. Twickenham also became a popular place to live for people working in London. St James's Primary School opened in 1893. St Catherine's Girls Independent School opened in 1914. St Richard Reynolds Catholic Community College, a secondary school, opened in 2013. Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Peter Smith opened it.
St Mary's University is also part of the parish. Pope Benedict XVI visited St Mary's in 2010. The university is next to Strawberry Hill House, a famous Gothic-style house from the 1700s.
In 2004, the church started a connection with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chișinău in Moldova. They began raising money to help build a children's center in Bender, Transdniestria. Deacon Peter Coates and Father Ulick Loring worked with Bishop Anton Cosa on this project. Bishop Cosa started a charity called Moldova Not Forgotten when he visited St James's in 2009.
The area around the church changed, so the church needed more space. A parish center was built behind the church. It includes a side chapel dedicated to St Joseph. The new center was named the Emmanuel Centre. This name honors King Manuel and Sister Emmanuel O'Donoghue, who worked for many years in local education and church life. These buildings were finished in 2013.
In 2016, the parish supported an orphanage in Eritrea. It is run by the Daughters of St Anne. The church also supports other charities like CAFOD, the Richmond Food Bank, Mary's Meals, Aid to the Church in Need, and Empowering Vulnerable Children, Uganda. In 2023, Father Ulick Loring published a history of the parish. It covered the history of Catholicism in the area since the Reformation.
Images for kids
-
Church of St James
-
Interior
-
The Portuguese memorial windows
-
The Sanctuary
