Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride's, Kew facts for kids
Quick 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 | 1905–6 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kew Gardens |
| Deanery | Mortlake |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark |
| Province | Southwark |
Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride's is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Kew, a part of London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It serves the local community of Kew Gardens.
History of the Church
The story of Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride's Church began with a group called the Society of Mary. They started a small Catholic mission in a temporary chapel at 14 Kew Gardens Road. This mission opened on October 26, 1898. Father Michael Cummins was the first parish priest. The Marists continued to serve the church until 1984.
The church is named after two important figures: Our Lady of Loreto and Saint Winefride. The founder of the Society of Mary had visited the Loreto shrine in Italy in 1833. Saint Winefride was a favorite saint of Miss Frances Elizabeth Ellis. She was a kind person who used her family's money to help build many 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 baptistery (where baptisms happen), and extra chapels.
In 1977, the sanctuary area was updated. Then, in 1998, the whole church was cleaned and redecorated. Next to the church, there is also a parish hall with a smaller meeting room.
In 1979, a church member named Mrs Moya Rinkenback left money to the church. This helped pay off the church's building costs. Because of this, the church was officially dedicated on April 27, 1979. Archbishop Michael Bowen led the special ceremony.
Since October 2018, Father Francis Lynch has been the parish priest. Mass is held every morning and on Saturday evenings. The church also shares a weekly newsletter online.
Famous Church Members
During World War II, a brave Royal Air Force pilot named Brendan "Paddy" Finucane (1920–1942) was a member here. His family lived nearby in Richmond. He used to be an altar server at this church.
School Connection
The church also had a school for young children called St Winefride's School. It was connected to the church and parish. The school operated from the 1910s until the early 1950s.
