Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Lowestoft facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady Star of the Sea Church |
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Exterior
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| 52°28′38″N 1°45′05″E / 52.4771°N 1.7513°E | |
| OS grid reference | TM548931 |
| Location | Lowestoft |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | OurLadyLowestoft.com |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founder(s) | Diocese of Northampton |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 21 June 1993 |
| Architect(s) | George Baines and F.W. Richards |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | August 1900 |
| Completed | 5 June 1902 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Great Yarmouth |
| Diocese | East Anglia |
| Province | Westminster |
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church is a special Roman Catholic church in Lowestoft, Suffolk. You can find it on Gordon Road, right in the middle of town. This church was started in 1881 by the Diocese of Northampton. Today, the Diocese of East Anglia looks after it. The church was designed in the beautiful Arts and Crafts style by architects George Baines and F.W. Richards. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historic place. This church is the most easterly Catholic parish church in all of the British Isles!
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
From 1867, Catholic people in Lowestoft went to church through a special group called a Jesuit mission. This mission came from St Mary's Church, Great Yarmouth. The small Catholic community first worshipped in rented rooms in different buildings. In 1881, they finally got a permanent chapel in a place that used to be a net loft. This is when the local church area, called a parish, officially began. It was led by a priest named Fr. Geoffrey Brennan.
However, the chapel soon became too small for everyone who wanted to attend. So, a new priest, Fr. Alexander Scott, started raising money. The goal was to buy a bigger place for the growing church community.
Building the Church
Work on the new church building began in August 1900. This is when the first important stone, called the foundation stone, was put in place. The architects, George Baines and F. W. Richards, were from the local area. They designed the church in the unique Arts and Crafts style.
George Baines was born in 1852 and began his work in Great Yarmouth. He designed many churches, mostly for the Baptists, but also for other Christian groups. F. W. Richards had his office in Lowestoft and also designed another church in Oulton Broad, Suffolk. The church was officially opened on 5 June 1902. On that day, it held its very first Mass, which is a special Catholic church service.
Changes Over Time
On March 13, 1976, the Diocese of Northampton split into two different areas. One part stayed as the Diocese of Northampton, and the other became the new Diocese of East Anglia. Lowestoft remained the most easterly church in this new area.
In 2017, the church received £25,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money was very helpful. It was used to repair the outside of the church building, keeping it strong and beautiful for years to come.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church is part of a larger church area called a parish. St Nicholas' Church in Pakefield is also part of this same parish. St Nicholas' Church is also a Grade II listed building, just like Our Lady Star of the Sea.
From 1955, there was a smaller church building, called a chapel of ease, for Our Lady Star of the Sea. It was in a building that used to be a billiards hall. But in 1995, the church bought an old church that was no longer being used. This church was originally called South Cliff Congregational Church.
The former congregationalist church was also designed by George Baines and F. W. Richards, and it was also in the Arts and Crafts style. Its foundation stone was laid on May 8, 1902, just a month before Our Lady Star of the Sea Church opened. A wealthy person named Sir Jeremiah Colman paid for its construction.
After 1961, the church was renamed Pakefield United Reformed Church, but it later closed. In 1995, the Catholic community in Lowestoft bought this church from the United Reformed Church. On August 11, 1995, a special ceremony took place. During this event, a Gospel book was handed over from the United Reformed Church to the Catholic community, showing friendship between the two groups.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church has two Sunday Masses. One is on Saturday at 5:00 PM, and the other is on Sunday at 10:30 AM. St Nicholas' Church has its Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM.
See also
- Society of Jesus
- Diocese of East Anglia
