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 | United Kingdom |
| 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 in Twickenham, London. It is dedicated to St James the Apostle. The church first opened its doors in 1885. Cardinal Henry Edward Manning officially opened it and then consecrated it in 1887. Before this, Catholic services were held in a temporary centre nearby.
A famous poet named Alexander Pope lived close to the church from 1718 until 1744. He was a Catholic writer. The area where he lived, Pope's Grotto, is named after him.
Contents
Discovering St James Church
The Church of St James is a beautiful building. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like older churches from the 13th century. James de Lacey Towle paid for the church to be built. This is why it is named after St James.
Art and History Inside
The church has several interesting paintings. One is a copy of a famous painting by Raphael called the Madonna and Child. It was given to the church around 1900. Another painting shows St James as "Matamoros," which means "conqueror of the Moors." This painting was created in 1995.
You can also see special carvings on the ceiling above the altar. These carvings show the fleur de lys, a symbol of France. They remind us of the support the French Royal Family gave to the church. They lived in the area for many years.
French Royal Connections
The church also has a special altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart. This shows its connection to France. Princess Marie-Amelie of Bourbon-Orleans was born nearby in York House in 1865. She later married King Carlos of Portugal.
Her son, King Manuel II, became a very important supporter of the church. He moved to Twickenham after leaving Portugal in 1910.
Portuguese Royal Links
King Manuel II of Portugal was a very active member of the church. He lived at Fulwell Park and regularly attended mass. He was also involved in local community events.
King Manuel's Support
During the First World War, King Manuel supported the Allied countries. He worked hard 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 also donated two windows to the church. One window is for St Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon. It has the Portuguese royal crest. The other window is for St Edmund of Abingdon. This window remembers Canon Edmund English, who passed away in 1924. King Manuel also opened the Parish Hall in 1927.
Royal Gifts and Legacy
After King Manuel died in 1932, the church received many special items. These included silver vessels and a container for communion bread with the King's symbol. Queen Victoria Augusta also gave the church an organ. King Manuel used to play this organ in his home. The organ is no longer used, but parts of it, with the Portuguese royal arms, can still be seen.
In 2009, a memorial was placed in the church for King Manuel II and Queen Augusta Victoria. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames. Important guests, including a relative of the King and the Portuguese Ambassador, attended the ceremony.
New Beginnings and Memorials
A project was started to install new stained glass windows. These windows would honor the Portuguese soldiers who died in the First World War. They also celebrate King Manuel's humanitarian work. The church was redecorated at this time.
Honoring the Fallen
The two new stained glass windows were designed by Caroline Benyon. They were blessed and dedicated on April 9, 2018. Important people from both Britain and Portugal attended the ceremony. The Portuguese choir of Camden Town and the parish choir performed music.
In May 2018, a group from the Portuguese Parliament visited the church. They presented a special dish to the parish. On the first anniversary of the windows, a plaque was unveiled by the Portuguese Ambassador.
There were also plans to build a statue of King Manuel II in Radnor Gardens. This would recognize his important contributions to the church and his help during the war.
Parish Life and Community
The St James Parish grew as more Catholic schools were built. Many people moved to Twickenham because it was easy to get to Central London and the airports.
Local Schools and Education
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, a very important church leader, 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 old Gothic-style house.
Global Connections and Support
In 2004, the church started a connection with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chisinau in Moldova. They began raising money to build a children's centre in Bender. This project helped children in need.
The church also built a new parish centre behind the main church. This new centre includes a side chapel dedicated to St Joseph. It was named the Emmanuel Centre. This name honors King Manuel and Sister Emmanuel O'Donoghue, who helped local education. These new buildings were finished in 2013.
The parish supports many charities. They help an orphanage in Eritrea and organizations like CAFOD. They also support the Richmond Food Bank and Mary's Meals.
Images for kids
-
Church of St James
-
Interior
-
The Portuguese memorial windows
-
The Sanctuary
