English Martyrs' Catholic Church, Goring-by-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids English Martyrs Catholic Church, Goring-by-Sea |
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The church from the northeast
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| 50°48′57″N 0°25′40″W / 50.8158°N 0.4277°W | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | English Martyrs |
| Consecrated | 1970 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church, utilitarian |
| Completed | 1968 |
| Specifications | |
| Width | 13 metres (44 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Worthing |
| Diocese | Arundel & Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
English Martyrs' Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Goring-by-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, England. It is an active church within the diocese of Arundel & Brighton.
This church is very special because it has the only known full-size copy of Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel ceiling. This amazing artwork was painted by hand by Gary Bevans. People have called it "a marvel" and "astonishing."
Contents
The Sistine Chapel Ceiling Copy
The idea for this incredible artwork came from a sign-painter named Gary Bevans. In 1987, he visited the real Sistine Chapel in Rome with his family. He was there for a special event called a beatification, which is when someone is declared blessed by the Catholic Church.
Gary was so inspired by the famous frescoes (paintings done on wet plaster) that Michelangelo created on the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508 and 1512. These paintings are considered some of the greatest artworks ever made.
Gary noticed something amazing: English Martyrs' Church was the same width as the Sistine Chapel in Rome! It was only a little bit shorter in length. He had already created other artworks for the church. These included paintings of two English Martyrs, St Thomas More and St John Fisher. He also painted a unique version of the Last Supper. This painting unusually shows Mary, a young child, and even a Yorkshire Terrier dog.
How the Painting Was Made
After getting support from the local priest and permission from the bishop, Gary started painting in late 1987. He worked on the ceiling for five and a half years, finishing in 1993. Gary did all the painting by himself. He worked in the evenings and on weekends, in addition to his full-time job.
The artwork is painted on a wooden, curved surface that is attached to the church roof. This surface was painted white first, and then Gary used acrylic paints to create the detailed frescoes.
The church also has other beautiful features. There is a stained glass window on the west side, created by Annie Goodman in 1990. Plus, there are colorful Irish glass panels in the clerestory, which is the upper part of the church walls with windows.
The Adjoining Barn
Next to the church, there is an old barn that is now used as a church hall. This barn was built in 1771 for a local farmer named George Jupp.
History of the Barn
On January 31, 1989, the barn and its smaller buildings were given a special status. They were designated as a Grade II listed building. This means they are important historical buildings that are protected.
In December 1937, the barn was in very poor condition. It was bought along with some nearby land and turned into a chapel. Priests from St Mary of the Angels church in Worthing would come to hold mass there.
When a new church area (parish) was created in 1952, this barn was used as the main church. It served this purpose until the current church building was completed and took its place.
