Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Cuthbert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Cuthbert's Church
Polish Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus & St Cuthbert
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Churchmanship	Polish
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Sacred Heart Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Groundbreaking	1846
Administration
Deanery	St. Francis (Bedford)
Diocese	Northampton
Province	Westminster

The Polish Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus & St Cuthbert is a Roman Catholic Church in Bedford, England. It is a special place of worship for the Polish community living there. This church is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.

History of St Cuthbert's Church

How Old Is This Church?

Churches have stood on this spot for a very long time, even since the 700s! The church building you see today was built much later, between 1846 and 1847. It was first an Anglican church and was known simply as St Cuthbert. It was built in a style called 'neo-Norman', which looks a bit like old castles.

Changes Over Time

Over the years, the church was made bigger. In 1865, new parts called aisles were added to the sides. The person who designed these additions was an architect named Francis Penrose. Later, in 1907, a porch was built at the front of the church.

A New Purpose

In 1974, the Church of England decided they no longer needed the building. It was then bought by a group called the Harpur Trust. They kindly gave the church to the Polish people living in Bedford. This is when its name was changed to the Polish Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus & St Cuthbert. It became a Roman Catholic church serving the Polish community.

What Is a Parish?

A parish is like a local area that a church serves. This church mainly serves the Polish community in Bedford. Sometimes, other special church services have also been held here.