Holy Cross Priory, Leicester facts for kids
Exterior of the Priory Church
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 Location in Leicestershire
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| Monastery information | |
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| Order | Dominican Order |
| Established | 1882 |
| Dedicated to | The Holy Cross |
| Diocese | Nottingham |
| Prior | Fr Richard Ounsworth O.P. |
| Site | |
| Location | Leicester, England |
| Coordinates | 52°37′50″N 1°07′49″W / 52.630648°N 1.130251°W |
Holy Cross Priory is a special Roman Catholic church and home for a group of priests called Dominican Friars. It is located in the city of Leicester, England. These friars are part of a very old religious order. They focus on teaching and sharing their faith.
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History of the Priory
The Dominican Friars first arrived in Leicester way back in 1247. They set up their first home, called a priory, near St. Clements Church. This was during the time of King Henry III.
However, this first priory was closed down in 1538. This happened when Henry VIII closed many religious houses in England. The Dominicans then left Leicester for over 280 years.
Returning to Leicester
The friars came back to Leicester in 1819. But the current Holy Cross Priory was not officially started until 1882. Over time, the church they used became too small.
In 1929, a friar named Vincent McNabb O.P. started raising money. He wanted to build a bigger, new church.
Building the New Church
By 1931, parts of the new church were finished. This included the choir area and the transepts (the arms of the cross-shaped church). The main altar was also blessed at this time.
The entire church was finally completed and officially blessed in 1958. It took many years to build this beautiful place of worship.
Church Organs
The priory has had two main church organs. The first one was built in 1861 by J Porritt & Son. It was moved when the new church opened in 1931.
However, this organ was too small and hard to play. So, a new organ was brought in. This replacement organ came from a church in Preston, Lancashire. It was built in 1880 by William Ebenezer Richardson.
What the Friars Do Today
The Dominican Friars at Holy Cross Priory are very active. They share their teachings in the village of Woodhouse. They also work with students at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University.
The friars also visit the Leicester Royal Infirmary to help people there. Some of them also teach at Blackfriars, Oxford, which is a special study house for Dominicans.
