Mythe Chapel facts for kids
The Mythe Chapel is a historic building in Tewkesbury, England. It sits on a hill called The Mythe, near the Mythe Bridge. For many years, it was an important place of worship. It was the only church on The Mythe after the time known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when many monasteries and religious buildings in England were closed down.
The chapel was built in 1870. A wealthy person named Marquis de Lys, who lived in Tewkesbury, paid for it. The building used to be old stables. Parts of these stables were used to create the new chapel. New features like windows, decorative spaces (niches), and strong supports (buttresses) were added. These were built in the popular Gothic style of that time.
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The Return of Catholicism
For a long time, there wasn't a Catholic church in Tewkesbury. But in 1834, a small notice appeared in a church directory. It said that a local gentleman wanted to help start a Catholic chapel in Tewkesbury. This showed that Catholicism was becoming active again in the area.
Establishing the Mission
The plan to build a new church finally began in 1870. This effort was called a "Mission." The first priest for this Mission was Father Thomas William Fenn. He stayed in Tewkesbury until he retired in 1905.
Opening the First Church
The first St. Joseph's Church opened its doors at The Mythe. This happened on Saint Joseph's Day, March 19, 1870. A church leader named Mgr Bonomi led the opening ceremony. Later that year, on December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph to be the special protector of the worldwide Catholic Church.
Mythe Chapel's New Life
The Mythe Chapel served as St. Joseph's Church for many years. However, in 1977, a new St. Joseph's Church opened. This new church was once a telephone exchange building. When the new church opened, the old Mythe Chapel was no longer used for religious services. This process is called "deconsecration."
From Church to Homes
The beautiful stained glass windows from the old Mythe Chapel were carefully moved. They were placed in the new St. Joseph's Church. After being deconsecrated, the Mythe Chapel was used for industrial purposes for a while.
Between 1988 and 1990, the building was transformed again. Peter and Wendy Vose converted it into homes. The old house where the priest lived, called the presbytery, became a home called September House. The main chapel building was divided into two cottages. These are now known as 1 and 2 September Cottages. They still have some of the original features inside, like the strong oak beams and the carved oak chapel door.
