Sacred Heart Church, St Ives facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church
Location	19 Needingworth Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5JT
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.sacredheart-stives.org.uk
Architecture
Style	Gothic Revival
Years built	1843/1902
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of East Anglia

Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic church. It serves as the main church for the Catholic community in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. This church has a very interesting story! It was first designed and built in Cambridge by a famous architect named Augustus Pugin. But in 1902, the entire church was taken apart. Then, it was moved by boat to St Ives and rebuilt there.

A Church on the Move: Its History

By the end of the 1800s, more Catholic families were living in St Ives. They needed a proper church building. At first, they used a small wooden building. But in 1902, a local businessman named George Pauling had a great idea.

He bought an old church in Cambridge for £1000. This church, called St Andrew's, was built in 1843. It was designed by Augustus Pugin. St Andrew's was no longer needed in Cambridge. A bigger church, Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church, had taken its place.

So, St Andrew's Church was carefully taken apart. Its pieces were loaded onto barges. These boats carried the church down the river to St Ives. The amazing part is that the church was rebuilt in St Ives in less than five months! The new church was then named the Sacred Heart.

Inside the Church: Its Architecture

The architect, Pugin, was not always happy with his own work. He once said he "wished the earth would open and swallow that building" about this church. But today, the church looks almost the same as it did when it was first built.

A few changes were made when it was moved. The entrance porch was rebuilt. The font, a special basin for baptisms, was moved to a new spot. Extra windows were added high up, in a part called the clerestory. These windows let in more light. Also, a large screen called a rood screen was removed.

One unusual thing about Sacred Heart Church is its direction. Most churches face east. But this church's main area, called the sanctuary, faces north-west.

The main altar, where services are held, was also designed by Pugin. It is made from a special stone called Caen stone. The altar shows a picture of the Lamb. Around the Lamb are symbols of the Four Evangelists, who wrote parts of the Bible. These symbols are surrounded by designs of winged angels. The altar was cleaned and repaired in 2002.

The beautiful stained glass windows were also designed by Pugin. They show the Madonna and Child, St Andrew, and St Felix. St Felix is the special saint for the local church area. More windows have been added over the years. Some replaced windows that were damaged in 1906.