Holy Rood Church, Watford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Rood Church |
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| 51°39′17″N 0°23′55″W / 51.6548°N 0.3986°W | |
| OS grid reference | TQ1087796327 |
| Location | Watford |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | RCDoW.org.uk/Watford |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Feast of the Cross |
| Consecrated | 5 July 1900 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 12 September 1980 |
| Architect(s) | John Francis Bentley |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 29 August 1889 |
| Completed | 16 September 1890 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Watford |
| Archdiocese | Westminster |
| Province | Westminster |
Holy Rood Church is a special Roman Catholic church located in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. It was built a long time ago, between 1889 and 1890. You can find it at the corner of Market Street and Exchange Road. A famous architect named John Francis Bentley designed it; he also designed the well-known Westminster Cathedral. This church is so important that it's a 'Grade I listed building', which means it's protected because of its history and beauty. A writer named Simon Jenkins even called it a "true town church" in his book England's Thousand Best Churches.
Contents
History of Holy Rood Church
Early Beginnings
The story of Holy Rood Church in Watford began in 1863. A priest named Father George Bampfield came to the town. He started holding Catholic Mass (a special church service) in a rented place in Carey Place. Later that year, he bought some land. He had a small hut built there, which became the first chapel for the local Catholics.
Building a New Chapel
By 1882, more and more Catholic people were living in Watford. This meant they needed a bigger place to worship. So, Father Bampfield bought a new piece of land on Water Lane. He then had another, larger chapel built there. This new chapel opened in 1883. It was used by the community until the much bigger Holy Rood Church was finally ready.
Construction of the Main Church
The first stone for Holy Rood Church was laid on 29 August 1889. A lot of the money for building the church came from Stephen Taprell Holland. He owned a building company called Holland & Sons. Mr. Holland hired John Francis Bentley to design the church.
The church officially opened on 16 September 1890. At that time, the main parts like the sanctuary (the area around the altar), the nave (where people sit), the transepts (the arms of the cross-shaped church), and the south aisle were finished. More work was planned for the church.
Completing the Church
Over the next few years, more parts were added. This included the tower, the Holy Ghost chapel, the north aisle, and the baptistry (where baptisms take place). On 7 May 1894, a very important person, Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, laid the foundation stone for the tower. Finally, on 5 July 1900, the completed church was officially consecrated (made sacred) by Bishop Robert Brindle.
Church Renovations
Over the years, the church has needed some care and repairs. In 1966, some of the stone needed to be replaced. The inside of the church also got a good cleaning. Then, in 1990, more big repairs happened. The flint (a type of stone), other stonework, and the roof were all fixed. The beautiful paintings inside the church were also cleaned to make them look new again.
Church Services
Holy Rood Church holds several Masses each week. On Saturday evening, there is a Mass at 6:00pm. On Sunday, there are Masses at 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am, and 5:00pm. There is also a special Polish Mass at 2:15pm on Sunday.
See also
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster
