Our Lady of the Angels, Nuneaton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of the Angels Roman Catholic Church |
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| 52°31′02″N 1°28′00″W / 52.51735°N 1.46657°W | |
| Location | Coton Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St.Mary's (1837-1889) (current name since 1889) |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Angels |
| Dedicated | 1838 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Hansom |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Nuneaton |
| Deanery | Rugby |
| Archdiocese | Birmingham |
Our Lady of the Angels is a Roman Catholic church located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. It is a special place of worship for many people in the town. This church is part of the larger Catholic community in Birmingham. It also belongs to the Rugby Deanery.
The church serves Nuneaton town centre and several nearby areas. These areas include Caldecote, Weddington, St. Nicolas Park, Horeston Grange, Whitestone, Attleborough, Chilvers Coton, and Stockingford. It is one of two Catholic churches in Nuneaton. The other church is St. Anne's.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
How It Started: St. Mary's
For a long time in Britain, Catholics did not have full freedom to practice their religion. But in 1829, a law called the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed. This law gave Catholics more rights. After this, Catholic communities began to grow.
In Nuneaton, people first held church services in homes. They met at Leather Mill Farm and then in a small cottage. As more Catholics joined, they needed a proper church building. So, in 1837, some land was bought on Coton Road. This is where the church stands today.
The first church, named St. Mary's, opened in 1838. It was built a year after its foundation stone was laid. At first, priests from the Dominican Order served the church. Later, priests from the Capuchin Fathers took over.
A New Name: Our Lady of the Angels
The year 1889 was an important time for the church. The Capuchin Fathers moved away after nine years. At this point, the church became fully managed by the local Catholic leaders. These leaders were part of what was then called the Diocese of Birmingham. It later became the Archdiocese of Birmingham in 1911.
At the same time, the church's name was changed. It became known as Our Lady of the Angels. This is the name it still has today.
Growing and Changing: Parish Updates
In 1949, the area that Our Lady of the Angels church served became smaller. This happened because the Catholic population in Nuneaton was growing. A new church, St. Anne's, was built to help serve more people.
Later, in 1960, another new place for Mass was built. It was called St. Bernadette's and was located in Stockingford. This also helped with the growing number of Catholics in Nuneaton. However, in 1994, St. Bernadette's sadly closed. This was due to changes, including fewer priests available. So, people from that area returned to Our Lady of the Angels for services.
Learning in the Parish: Local Schools
The parish of Our Lady of the Angels is connected to two local Catholic schools:
- Our Lady and Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy (This is a primary school for younger students.)
- St Thomas More Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Nuneaton (This is a secondary school and also offers education for students over 16.)
Both of these schools are part of the Holy Spirit Catholic Multi Academy.
