Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church, Dolgellau Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Dolgellau
Exterior
52°44′30″N 3°53′05″W / 52.7416°N 3.8846°W / 52.7416; -3.8846
OS grid reference	SH7285417665
Location	Dolgellau, Gwynedd
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Parish site
History
Status	Active
Founder(s)	Fr Francis Scalpell
Dedication	Our Lady of Sorrows
Consecrated	15 May 1967
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	9 August 2007
Architect(s)	Maurice Pritchard
Style	Romanesque Revival
Groundbreaking	1963
Completed	September 1966
Construction cost	£68,000
Specifications
Capacity	200
Length	88 ft (27 m)
Width	33 ft (10 m)
Height	28 ft (8.5 m)
Administration
Deanery	Dolgellau
Diocese	Wrexham
Province	Cardiff

Our Lady of Sorrows Church, also known as Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Dolgellau, Gwynedd. It was built in 1966. This church is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place. You can find it on Meyrick Street, near the town centre. It belongs to the Diocese of Wrexham.

History of the Church
Church Activities
Gallery
See also

History of the Church

Early Days and Challenges

The person who started this church was Father Francis Scalpell. He was a priest from Malta. He became a priest in Rome in 1921. Later, he moved to Liverpool in 1926. There, he helped start a church called St Anthony of Padua. In 1938, he moved to Haverfordwest, and then to Dolgellau a year later.

When Father Scalpell first arrived, there was no proper church for Catholics in Dolgellau. So, church services were held in an old stable. This stable had holes in its walls and roof! Father Scalpell himself lived in the attic of a nearby barn, which also had holes in its roof.

Later, the old stable was fixed up and made bigger. It was joined to a building that used to be a fish and chip shop. During the Second World War, some Italian prisoners of war helped with the wood panels and the wooden floor.

A New Church is Needed

In the 1950s, more and more Catholic people moved to the area. Father Scalpell realized they needed a bigger church. He worked very hard to raise money. He wrote over 25,000 letters to people all over the world asking for donations.

In the early 1960s, something amazing happened. After a Sunday service, a person who no one knew stayed behind. This person asked Father Scalpell how much more money was needed for the new church. Father Scalpell told them the amount. The person said they would give the money, but they wanted to remain a secret. They also said the church "must be a fine building, harmonizing with its austere, mountainous surroundings." Two days later, Father Scalpell received a letter confirming the donation.

Building the Church

Building work on the new church began in 1963. It took four years to finish. The total cost was £68,000. The architect, Maurice Pritchard, and the builders, John Evans and Sons, were all from the local area.

The church was built in a Norman style. Above the main entrance, there is a beautiful crucifix. This crucifix was designed by Benigno Mörlin Visconti Castiglione. He was a sculptor from Milan, Italy. His work can also be seen in famous places like Milan Cathedral and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The church officially opened in September 1966. It was formally blessed and dedicated on May 15, 1967. This ceremony was led by Bishop John Edward Petit.

Church Activities

This church is an active place of worship. Inside the parish, there is also a convent run by the Carmelites. A convent is a place where nuns live and pray. The local priest holds a church service there every Sunday evening at 5:00 PM. In the main church, Sunday services are held in the morning at 9:00 AM.