Sacred Heart Church, Hillsborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Church |
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Sacred Heart Church seen from Ripley Street.
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 Sacred Heart Church
Location in Sheffield
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| 53°24′04″N 1°29′57″W / 53.4012°N 1.4993°W | |
| Location | Hillsborough, Sheffield |
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 5 August 1920 |
| Dedicated | 7 March 1947 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Architect(s) | C.M. Hadfield |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Construction cost | £13,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sacred Heart Hillsborough |
| Deanery | Sheffield North |
| Diocese | Diocese of Hallam |
Sacred Heart Church is a beautiful Catholic church located in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield, England. It is found on Forbes Road and is part of the Diocese of Hallam. The church is considered a special building, listed as Grade II for its historical importance. Its tall tower stands out and can be seen from far away.
Contents
History of Sacred Heart Church
Early Days and the First Chapel
Before the 1900s, Catholic people in Hillsborough and Lower Walkley went to church at the Hillsborough Barracks chapel. As more people moved into the area, they needed a bigger place to worship. So, on July 19, 1903, a new building opened. This building was both a school and a chapel. It was built on land between Forbes Road and Ripley Street.
The land cost £1,080, and the building itself cost £3,000. It was designed by an architect named C.M. Hadfield. This building was like a smaller church for the larger St Vincent's parish. Today, this original building is still used as the Sacred Heart Primary School.
Becoming an Independent Parish
In 1920, the Sacred Heart area became its own independent church parish. This happened on August 5, 1920, meaning it was no longer part of St Vincent's. R.J. Dunford became the first priest. At first, there was no church building, so Father Dunford held church services, called Mass, in the school-chapel.
A temporary church was set up and opened in February 1921. It cost £3,000 to build.
Building the Permanent Church
Work on the permanent church building started much later, in May 1935. On July 7 of that same year, the first stone was laid by Joseph Cowgill, who was a Catholic Bishop. The church cost £13,000 to build. A large part of this money, £10,000, was given by the wife of Philip Wake. He was a well-known local magistrate.
The church officially opened on March 25, 1936. A special Mass was held, and a sermon (a religious talk) was given by Richard Downey, who was the Archbishop of Liverpool.
Architecture and Art of the Church
Design and Materials
The church was designed by architect C. M. Hadfield. He used special thin red bricks that have a unique texture. The way the bricks are laid, called "Monk bond," is quite unusual. Many people consider it one of the best churches built in Sheffield between the two World Wars.
Bells and Sculptures
Originally, the church had one large bell. It was made by John Taylor Bellfounders and weighs over one ton. In 1948, the bell tower was made stronger. Then, a set of smaller bells was added by the same company. These bells can be played like a carillon, which is a musical instrument made of bells.
The sculptor Philip Lindsey Clark created the 14 Stations of the Cross. These are a series of images showing Jesus's journey to his crucifixion, and they are placed around the inside walls of the church. Philip Lindsey Clark also carved the statue of the Sacred Heart at the main entrance. He also made the carvings above the main door, which are made of Portland stone. These carvings show scenes from a pilgrimage (a religious journey) to Lourdes. One figure in the water might be Alfred Wood, a local person who was healed during a pilgrimage in 1930. The first priest, Canon Dunsford, and the architect are also shown among the pilgrims in these carvings.
Mosaics and Altar Changes
Eric Newton created the beautiful mosaics inside the church. Mosaics are pictures made from small pieces of colored glass or stone. The most striking mosaic is a figure of the Sacred Heart with angels in the apse, which is the curved area behind the main altar. He added more mosaics in the side chapels in 1961 to celebrate the church's 25th anniversary.
In the late 1960s, some changes were made to the sanctuary (the area around the altar). This was because of new rules from the Second Vatican Council, a big meeting of Catholic leaders. The altar was moved forward so that Mass could be celebrated versus populum, meaning the priest faces the people. The altar was also made shorter. The extra stone was used to create a table for the tabernacle, which is where the consecrated bread is kept.
Roof Repairs
For many years, the church had problems with its flat roof leaking. In 1983, a slightly sloped roof was put in to fix this. The roof was replaced again in the late 2000s to keep the church in good condition.
