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	TV 60721 98750
Location	Eastbourne, East Sussex
Country	England
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 parish church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England. It began as a small Christian mission in 1869. The main church building was constructed between 1900 and 1903. Later, more parts were added in 1926.

The church is located on the corner of Meads Road and Grange Road, right in the center of Eastbourne. It was designed by an architect named Frederick Walters. The building is recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical structure.

Inside the church

History of the Church

How the Church Started

On May 29, 1867, a Christian mission began in Eastbourne. Its goal was to serve the local Catholic community. This mission first met at 42 Ceylon Place in the town. The first priest was Father Charles P. King.

Less than a year after the mission started, Father King paid for a brick chapel to be built. This new chapel was located on Junction Road. It opened on April 1, 1869, and was dedicated to Our Lady, Star of the Sea.

On April 14, 1890, an older version of Our Lady of Ransom Church opened. This was a temporary church near Grove Road. It used to be a market hall and later became a garage for the police station. For the next ten years, people worked to build a permanent church in the town. Father King left Eastbourne in February 1893. On September 23, 1895, St Joseph's Catholic School was opened.

Building the Church

Before 1900, the land where the current church stands was purchased. The first stone for the church was laid on December 11, 1900. The architect, Frederick Walters, designed the church in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like the grand churches built in the Middle Ages.

The total cost to build the church was about £11,000. On December 15, 1901, the church was opened by the Bishop of Southwark, Francis Bourne. He later became a very important leader in the Catholic Church called a cardinal. The church was mostly finished in 1903, but the tower was still incomplete. By then, Father Paul Lynch was the priest.

In 1912, the church's tower and tall spire were finally completed. On February 11, 1926, several parts of the church were extended. These included the chancel (the area around the altar), the lady chapel, and the sacristy (where priests prepare). The church was then reopened. On July 8, 1926, the church was officially blessed in a special ceremony.

In 1995, more work was done on the church. A new altar was put in, and the sanctuary (the holy area around the altar) was updated.

The Parish Community

Our Lady of Ransom Church is part of the same Eastbourne parish as two other churches. These are St Agnes Church on Whitley Road and St Gregory's Church on Victoria Drive. A parish is like a local community served by a church.

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

St Gregory's Church was first built in 1934. It was a timber (wooden) church and cost £1,000 to build. In 1965, construction began on the current St Gregory's Church. This new building cost £43,000. It was designed by Gordon Robins. The church opened on December 8, 1966. The old wooden church still stands next to the newer one.

Our Lady of Ransom Church holds three Sunday Masses (church services). These are on Saturday at 6:00 PM, and on Sunday at 10:15 AM and 5:30 PM. St Agnes Church has one Sunday Mass at 11:30 AM. St Gregory's Church has one Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM.

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  St Agnes Church, Eastbourne

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  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