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Our Lady of Loreto & St Winefride Catholic Church, Kew facts for kids
| Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride's, Kew | |
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Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride's, Kew
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| 51°28′44.2″N 0°17′8.9″W / 51.478944°N 0.285806°W | |
| Location | 1 Leyborne Park, Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3HB |
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 26 October 1898 (parish); 21 November 1905 (church foundation stone) |
| Founder(s) | Society of Mary |
| Dedication | 27 April 1979 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Scoles & Raymond |
| Style | Neo-Romanesque |
| Years built | 1905–06 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kew Gardens |
| Deanery | Mortlake |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark |
| Province | Southwark |
Our Lady of Loreto & St Winefride Catholic Church is a special church in Kew, a part of London. It serves as the main church for the Catholic community in Kew Gardens. You can find it at 1 Leyborne Park.
Contents
The Church's Story
How the Church Started
The church's story began with a group called the Society of Mary. They set up a small, temporary church at 14 Kew Gardens Road. This first church opened on October 26, 1898. It was called Loreto House. Father Michael Cummins was the very first priest there. The Society of Mary helped lead the church until 1984.
Why the Name?
The church is named after two important figures: Our Lady of Loreto and Saint Winefride. The founder of the Society of Mary visited the Loreto shrine in Italy in 1833. He did this after asking the Pope for permission to start the society. Saint Winefride was a favorite saint of Miss Frances Elizabeth Ellis. She was a kind person who helped fund many churches. Miss Ellis inherited money from her wealthy father. This money allowed her to support the building of churches.
Building and Changes
The church was designed by architects Scoles & Raymond. It first opened in 1906. Later, in 1968, more parts were added. These included the side aisles, a special area for baptisms, and other small chapels. The main altar area was updated in 1977. The whole church was cleaned and redecorated in 1998. Next to the church, there is also a hall for parish events. It has a smaller meeting room too.
In 1979, a church member named Mrs. Moya Rinkenback left money to the church. This money helped pay off all the church's debts. Because of this, the church was officially dedicated and made sacred. This special ceremony happened on April 27, 1979. Archbishop Michael Bowen led the ceremony.
Famous People Connected to the Church
Second World War Royal Air Force fighter pilot Brendan "Paddy" Finucane was a famous person linked to this church. He was a flying ace, meaning he shot down many enemy planes. His family lived nearby in Richmond. When he was younger, he served at the church's altar.
The Church School
There was once a school for young children called St Winefride's School. It was connected to the church and parish. This school operated from the 1910s until the early 1950s.