Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Bognor Regis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Sorrows Church |
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| 50°47′03″N 0°40′12″W / 50.7842°N 0.6701°W | |
| OS grid reference | SZ9384899137 |
| Location | Bognor Regis, West Sussex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | BognorCatholicParish.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Servites |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Sorrows |
| Dedicated | 16 August 1882 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 4 June 2015 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Stanislaus Hansom Wilfrid Clarence Mangan |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 26 October 1881 |
| Completed | 1957 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Cathedral |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
Our Lady of Sorrows Church is a Roman Catholic church in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England. It's a special place of worship for the local community. The church was built between 1881 and 1882. It was designed by a famous architect named Joseph Stanislaus Hansom. You can find it right in the middle of Bognor Regis, on the corner of High Street and Clarence Road. A group of priests called the Servites started this church. Today, it's recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Church
Building the Church
In 1880, the Servites, a religious order, decided to start a new church community in Bognor Regis. The first stone for the church was laid on 26 October 1881. The main architect for the building was Joseph Stanislaus Hansom. He was the son of another famous architect, Joseph Hansom. Together, they also designed another church in London.
The church officially opened on 16 August 1882. Canon John Butt, who later became a bishop, led the opening ceremony. However, the church wasn't fully finished at that time. Some parts, like the main hall (nave) and side sections (transepts), were still incomplete. A temporary wall was put up so people could still use the church.
Finishing the Work
The church wasn't fully completed until much later, between 1955 and 1957. Another architect, Wilfrid Clarence Mangan, took over Hansom's original plans. He was supposed to finish the church in 1939, but World War II stopped all the work.
Joseph Stanislaus Hansom had also designed a building for the Servite priests next to the church. This building was taken down in the 1980s, and new apartments were built there instead. In 1985, the inside of the church was updated. In 1994, the Servites handed over the church to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. This diocese still looks after the church today.
The Church Community
The church community, or parish, of Our Lady of Sorrows in Bognor Regis also includes two other churches. These are St Richard of Chichester Church in Slindon and St Anthony of Viareggio Church in Rose Green, Aldwick.
St Richard of Chichester Church
St Richard of Chichester Church is located in Slindon on Top Road. It was also made a Grade II listed building in 2005, showing its historical importance. In 1814, a wealthy man named Anthony Radclyffe, the 5th Earl of Newburgh, passed away. He left money to build a Catholic church in Slindon. However, his wife wanted to keep using their family chapel. So, the church wasn't built until after she died.
Construction on St Richard's Church began in 1865. It was designed by Charles Alban Buckler, a well-known architect who designed many churches. He also worked on Arundel Castle later in his career.
St Anthony of Viareggio Church
St Anthony of Viareggio Church has an interesting story. In 1961, a man named Mr. Brown gave this building to the Servite Friars. It used to be a regular house (a bungalow). It was then changed and updated to become a church. A priest named Fr Anselm Hislop OSM was in charge of this renovation. He even added the church tower. On 6 May 1963, the church was officially opened by the Archbishop of Southwark, Cyril Cowderoy.
Mass Times
If you want to visit, Our Lady of Sorrows Church has five Sunday Masses. These are on Saturday at 5:15 PM, and on Sunday at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM (in Polish), and 6:00 PM.
St Richard of Chichester's Church in Slindon has one Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM. St Anthony of Viareggio's Church in Aldwick has two Sunday Masses. One is on Saturday at 6:00 PM (in Polish), and the other is on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Images for kids
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St Richard of Chichester Church in Slindon
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St Anthony of Viareggio's Church, Aldwick
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See also
- Servite Order
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
- List of places of worship in Arun
