Our Lady Immaculate Church, Chelmsford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady Immaculate Church |
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| 51°43′45″N 0°28′04″E / 51.729093°N 0.467766°E | |
| OS grid reference | TL 70524 06257 |
| Location | Chelmsford, Essex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | ChelmsfordCatholic.co.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Immaculate Conception |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Joseph John Scoles |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | October 1847 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Mid-Essex |
| Diocese | Brentwood |
| Province | Westminster |
Our Lady Immaculate Church is a Roman Catholic church in Chelmsford, Essex, England. It used to be called the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The church was started in 1845 and opened in 1847. A famous architect named Joseph John Scoles designed it. You can find the church on New London Road. It is right next to Our Lady Immaculate Primary School in the city centre.
Contents
History
How the Church Started
In 1840, the land for the church was bought. It was purchased from Charles King. His father was the first priest to serve the Catholic people in Chelmsford. In 1845, the church's mission to the Catholic community in Chelmsford officially began.
Building the Church
The church opened in October 1847. A very important church leader, Nicholas Wiseman, opened it. He later became an Archbishop of Westminster and a Cardinal. The church was first named after the Immaculate Conception.
Joseph John Scoles was the architect who designed the building. Two main people helped pay for the church: Charles King and William Petre, 12th Baron Petre. Lord Petre was the one who chose Scoles to design the church. Builders from Stratford, called Messrs Curtis, constructed the church. They built it in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches.
The Lady altar inside the church used to be in Thorndon Hall. This was Lord Petre's home. The beautiful east window in the church was made in Newcastle upon Tyne by Thomas Dunn. Its design was inspired by Augustus Pugin, another famous architect.
Changes Over Time
In 1973, the church was changed and made bigger. A new altar was blessed by Patrick Casey, who was the Bishop of Brentwood. In 1982, the church's name was changed. It went from the Immaculate Conception to Our Lady Immaculate.
In 1985, the current organ was put into the church. It came from a United Reformed Church in Felsted. In 1988, a large crucifix was placed above the altar. It was designed by William Gordon.
The Church Community
From 2008 until 2022, priests from the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré served the church. These priests are also known as Premonstratensians or Norbertines. They came from St. Philip's Priory. They also served another church in Chelmsford, called Holy Name Church.
Holy Name Church was built in 1965. It is located in the Moulsham Lodge area of Chelmsford. Holy Name Church has two Sunday Masses. One is on Saturday at 6:00 PM, and the other is on Sunday at 10:30 AM.
Our Lady Immaculate Church has three Sunday Masses. These are at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 7:00 PM.
Inside the Church
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The main part of the church, called the nave
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The altar area
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Pope Benedict XVI's coat of arms on the organ
See Also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood
