Corpus Christi Church, Boscombe Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Corpus Christi Church
Catholic Church of Corpus Christi, Boscombe
South side of the church
Corpus Christi Church Location in Dorset
50°43′38″N 1°49′47″W / 50.727315°N 1.829851°W / 50.727315; -1.829851
OS grid reference	SZ1208991974
Location	Boscombe, Dorset
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	CorpusChristiBoscombe.org.uk
History
Status	Active
Founded	1895 (1895)
Founder(s)	Baroness Pauline von Hugel
Dedication	Body of Christ
Consecrated	8 September 1896
Events	Extended 1932-34 Re-ordered 1974
Architecture
Functional status	Parish Church
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	27 February 1976
Architect(s)	J. William Lunn
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	22 August 1895
Completed	22 April 1934
Construction cost	£5000 (£15,000 extension)
Specifications
Capacity	800
Spire height	108 ft (33 m)
Administration
Deanery	Bournemouth
Diocese	Portsmouth
Province	Southwark

The Corpus Christi Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Boscombe. Boscombe is a town near Bournemouth in Dorset, England. This church was started by Baroness Pauline von Hügel and a group called the Jesuits. Today, the Diocese of Portsmouth looks after it.

You can find the church on St James' Square. It is at the corner of Parkwood Road and Christchurch Road. The church was built in 1895. It has a tall bell tower, which is about 108 feet (33 meters) high. From the top of this tower, you can even see the Isle of Wight on a clear day!

History of the Church
Parish Life Today
Inside the Church
See also

History of the Church

How the Church Started

Entrance of the former Convent of the Cross, which neighbours the church and the primary school

The first Catholic place for worship in Boscombe opened in 1887. This happened when a group called the Religious of the Cross moved there. They bought a large piece of land. On this land, John Vertue, who was the first Bishop of Portsmouth, set up a small public chapel. This chapel was made of iron and was bought from Lord Petre.

The iron chapel officially opened on New Year's Day in 1888. A Jesuit priest named Father Charles de Lapasture SJ from Bournemouth looked after it. Building work for the convent itself began on September 6, 1888. About a year later, a school was built right next door. This school is called Corpus Christi Primary School.

Baroness Pauline von Hügel is often seen as the main founder of Corpus Christi Church. She was the daughter of an Austrian nobleman and botanist, Charles von Hügel. Her brothers were the famous theologian Friedrich von Hügel and anthropologist Anatole von Hügel. With the school built, there was a clear need for a permanent church building. The Baroness decided to build a church that would serve both the local people and the Sisters from the nearby convent. To do this, she bought a property called 'Holyrood' and two acres of land. This land stretched from Christchurch Road all the way to the convent garden.

Building the Church

Construction of the church began in 1885. The architect who designed it was J. William Lunn. He was from Malvern, Worcestershire. He also designed other churches, like Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, King's Lynn and St Edmund Church in Southampton.

The church was officially opened on September 8, 1896, by Bishop John Vertue. Baroness Pauline von Hügel decided to give the church to the Society of Jesus. This meant that Father de Lapasture SJ became the first priest in charge of the parish. The church was designed to be about 50 meters (164 feet) high inside the main area, called the nave. It could hold up to 400 people for services.

Making the Church Bigger

In 1926, Father Ralph Baines SJ became the new parish priest. He decided that the church needed to be larger. A special fund was started to collect money for this expansion. The project was expected to cost about £15,000.

Work on the extension began in August 1932. It was finished by March 1934. The newly enlarged church could now hold 800 people. The most noticeable new part was the tall tower, which reached 108 feet (33 meters) high. Bishop Cotter blessed the expanded church on April 22, 1934.

Changes Inside the Church

In 1974, the inside of the church was changed again. This was done to follow new rules from the Second Vatican Council. These rules said that everyone in the congregation should have a clear view of the altar. So, the altar was moved closer to the people.

After this work was completed, the church was officially consecrated by Bishop Derek Worlock. This special ceremony took place on July 18, 1974.

Parish Life Today

In 2007, the Jesuit community in the area grew. A new care home, called the Corpus Christi Jesuit Community Care Home, opened next to the church. Corpus Christi Church has many different groups and activities for its members. These include prayer groups, music groups, and choirs.

Right next to the church is Corpus Christi Primary School. This is a voluntary assisted school for children aged 4 to 11 years old. In May 2022, it was announced that the Jesuits would no longer be able to serve the parish. The church then became part of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. They continue to manage the church and its activities today.