Church of the Most Precious Blood, Southwark facts for kids
The Church of the Most Precious Blood is a special Roman Catholic church located on O'Meara Street in Southwark, London. It's part of a group called the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
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What Makes This Church Special?
This church and its next-door building, called the presbytery (where priests live), are very important. They have been officially listed as a Grade II building since 2014. This means they are protected because of their history and special design.
The Beautiful Shrine Outside
Outside the church, there is a lovely shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. It was built in 1957. This shrine is made from beautiful marble from Sicily. It stands in a special spot lined with flint stones from Norfolk.
How the Church Began
The church serves the Parish of the Most Precious Blood. This parish was started in 1891 by the Bishop of Southwark, John Baptist Butt. He was able to do this because someone left a large gift of £10,000.
Who Designed the Church?
The church was designed by a famous architect named Frederick Walters. Building the church and the presbytery together cost £7,000. It was a big project for its time!
Inside the Church
A writer named Denis Evinson once described the inside of the church. He said it was "a joy to enter, warm, welcoming and uncluttered by busy detail." This means it feels nice and simple inside.
Special Art and Bells
The church has two bells that were made in 1956 at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. This foundry is very old and famous for making bells.
Along the walls inside the church, you can see the Stations of the Cross. These are a series of pictures or sculptures that show Jesus's journey to his crucifixion. These ones are made from terracotta (a type of clay) by a Swiss artist named Matthias Zens.
Joining a New Group
In 2013, the church's parish joined the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. This is a special group within the Catholic Church for people who used to be Anglicans.
Images for kids
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The shrine at the entrance to the church for Our Lady of Lourdes
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Church Interior
