Our Lady of Ransom Church, Eastbourne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Ransom Church
50°45′58″N 0°16′40″E / 50.7661°N 0.2777°E / 50.7661; 0.2777
OS grid reference	TV6072198750
Location	Eastbourne, East Sussex
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	EastbourneCatholicChurches.co.uk
History
Status	Active
Dedication	Our Lady of Ransom
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	22 October 1998
Architect(s)	Frederick Walters
Groundbreaking	1890
Completed	1903
Administration
Parish	Eastbourne
Deanery	Eastbourne
Diocese	Diocese of Arundel and Brighton (since 1965)
Province	Province of Southwark (since 1965)

Our Lady of Ransom Church is a Roman Catholic church in Eastbourne, East Sussex. It's a special kind of church called a Parish church, which means it serves a local area. The church started as a small religious group (a mission) in 1869. The main building was constructed between 1900 and 1903. Later, more parts were added in 1926.

You can find this church at the corner of Meads Road and Grange Road. It's right in the middle of Eastbourne, across from Eastbourne Town F.C.. A famous architect named Frederick Walters designed it. The church is also a "Grade II listed building," which means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.

Inside the church

History of Our Lady of Ransom Church

How the Church Started

On May 29, 1867, a special church group (called a mission) began in Eastbourne. Its goal was to serve the local Roman Catholic community. This group first met at 42 Ceylon Place. The first priest was Father Charles P. King.

Less than a year later, Father King paid for a small brick chapel to be built. It was located on Junction Road. This chapel opened on April 1, 1869. It was named after 'Our Lady, Star of the Sea' (Stella Maris).

On April 14, 1890, a temporary church opened. It was called the old Our Lady of Ransom Church. This building used to be a market hall. Later, it became a garage for the police station. For the next ten years, people worked hard to build a permanent church. Father King left Eastbourne in February 1893. In September 1895, St Joseph's Catholic School also opened.

Building the Church

Before the year 1900, the land for the current church was bought. The first stone for the church was laid on December 11, 1900. Frederick Walters designed the church in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks a bit like old medieval churches. Building the church cost about £11,000.

On December 15, 1901, the church first opened. The Bishop of Southwark, Francis Bourne, led the opening. He later became a very important church leader called a cardinal. The church was mostly finished by 1903, but the tall tower was still missing. Father Paul Lynch was the priest at this time.

The church's tower and spire were completed in 1912. On February 11, 1926, more parts of the church were finished. These included the chancel (the area near the altar), the lady chapel (a small chapel), and the sacristy (where priests prepare). The church was then officially reopened. On July 8, 1926, the church was formally dedicated in a special ceremony called a consecration.

In 1995, the church had more updates. A new altar was put in, and the sanctuary (the holy area around the altar) was refreshed.

The Church Community

Our Lady of Ransom Church is part of a larger group of churches in Eastbourne. This group also includes St Agnes Church and St Gregory's Church.

St Agnes Church is on Whitley Road in Roselands. It started in 1895 as a mission in St Joseph’s School. In 1906, a person named Agnes Zimmermann gave £1,500 to help build the church. Its first stone was laid on September 28, 1906. The church opened on March 6, 1907. Percy Dulvey Stonham was the architect. St Joseph's School later closed and became a center for St Agnes' church.

St Gregory's Church is on Victoria Drive in Downside. The first St Gregory's was a wooden church built in 1934 for £1,000. The current church building started in 1965 and cost £43,000. Gordon Robins designed it. The church opened on December 8, 1966. The old wooden church is still there, next to the new one.

Our Lady of Ransom Church has three Sunday Masses. These are on Saturday at 6:00pm, and on Sunday at 10:15am and 5:30pm. St Agnes Church has one Sunday Mass at 11:30am. St Gregory's Church has one Sunday Mass at 9:00am.

Images for kids

• 

  St Agnes Church, Eastbourne

• 

  St Gregory's Church, Eastbourne

More to Explore

• Listed buildings in Eastbourne
• List of places of worship in Eastbourne
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton