Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen's Church, Westcliff-on-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Helen's Church |
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| Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen's Church | |
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| 51°32′17″N 0°41′59″E / 51.538097°N 0.699845°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ8732085592 |
| Location | Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Founder(s) | Countess Helen Tasker |
| Consecrated | 12 August 1919 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 26 November 2014 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Goodman and Alexander Scoles |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 8 October 1868 |
| Completed | 1903 |
| Construction cost | £1,700 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Southend |
| Diocese | Brentwood |
| Province | Westminster |
St Helen's Church, also known as Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen's Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, England. It was started in 1862 and built in 1867. Later, more parts were added between 1898 and 1903. The church is found on Milton Road, close to St Helen's Road, right next to St Bernard's High School. It's built in the Gothic Revival style, which means it looks like old Gothic churches. This church was the first Catholic church built in Southend after the Reformation. It is also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical building.
Contents
History of St Helen's Church
How the Church Began
The Catholic community in Southend started its mission in 1862. A priest named Fr John Moore led this mission. At first, church services were held in his house. A very important person who helped fund the church was Helen Tasker (1823–1888). She lived at Middleton Hall in Essex. In 1870, Pope Pius IX made her a countess because of her good deeds. She inherited her wealth from her father, Joseph Tasker, who was a successful businessman.
Building the Church
On October 8, 1868, Helen Tasker laid the first stone for the church. The main architect was Thomas Goodman. The building company was Wilkins & Son from Chatham. Goodman designed the church in the Gothic Revival style, taking ideas from another architect, E. W. Pugin. The detailed carvings inside the church were made by Thomas Earp. Building the church cost about £1,700.
In October 1869, some parts of the church were finished. These included the nave (the main part where people sit), the chancel (the area around the altar), and the sacristy (where priests prepare). The church was then opened by Cardinal Manning, who was the Archbishop of Westminster. Since the rest of the church was not yet built, temporary screens were put up to hide the ongoing construction.
In 1887, a house for the priest, called a presbytery, was built. The architect for this was Leonard Stokes. Stokes also designed a part of the nearby convent, which later became St Bernard's High School. Another architect, Benedict Williamson, also designed an addition to that convent.
In 1895, a new high altar was put into the church. It was designed by Frederick Walters. From 1899 to 1900, the south aisle (a side section of the church) was added. Then, from 1902 to 1903, the north aisle and sacristy were made bigger. The architect for these later additions was Alexander Scoles.
On August 12, 1919, the church was officially dedicated by Bernard Ward, who was the first Bishop of Brentwood. During World War II, many of the church's beautiful stained glass windows were damaged. From 1952 to 1953, new windows were installed. These new windows were made by a company called Hardman & Co..
Church Services
St Helen's Church holds several services on Sundays. There is a Polish Mass on Saturday at 6:00 PM. On Sunday, there are Masses at 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and 6:00 PM. The current priest for the parish is Fr Alex Poblador RCJ, who belongs to the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus.
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood
