Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation |
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| Church of Our Lady of Consolation and Saint Francis | |
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| OS grid reference | TQ1770921153 |
| Location | West Grinstead, West Sussex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Consolation.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Fr Jean-Marie Denis |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary Francis |
| Relics held | Blessed Francis Bell |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 22 February 2007 |
| Architect(s) | John A. Crawley |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 29 May 1875 |
| Completed | 27 June 1876 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Crawley |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
The Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis is a Roman Catholic church located in West Grinstead, West Sussex. It is a special place of worship, also known as a parish church.
This beautiful church was built between 1875 and 1876. Later, more parts were added in 1896 and 1964. The first design was by John A. Crawley. The additions in 1896 were designed by Frederick Walters.
The church is built in the Gothic Revival style, which means it looks like older Gothic churches. It is also a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical building. The church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the name Our Lady of Consolation.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings: Before the Church Was Built
Long ago, even before the Reformation, there was a special place in West Grinstead where people honored the Blessed Virgin Mary.
After the Reformation, when many churches changed, Catholic worship continued in this area. In the mid-1600s, a man named John Caryll bought West Grinstead Manor. The private chapel in his manor became a place for local Catholics to worship.
In 1671, John Caryll helped support priests in the area. His house became the home for the priests, known as a presbytery. By 1685, about sixteen Catholic families lived nearby. From 1710 to 1754, Jesuits served the Catholic community here.
Later, in 1758, John Baptist Caryll had to sell the manor. But he made sure the priests still had a home and money to continue their work. From 1758 until 1815, Franciscans served the local Catholics from that house.
Building the Church: A New Start
In 1863, a French priest named Jean-Marie Denis came to West Grinstead. He helped restart the local Catholic community. He not only planned the church but also reopened a school, which later became an orphanage. He also built St Juliana's Priory next to the church.
The Bishop of Southwark asked Father Denis to build a "miniature French cathedral." People from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands helped raise money for it. The first stone of the church was laid on May 29, 1875.
The Priory and School
The priory building was finished in 1869. It housed 36 nuns. In 1871, Dominican Sisters moved in and started a refuge for girls. This refuge and the orphanage later joined together.
The school changed names over the years. From 1935, it became St Thomas More School, a Catholic school for boys. It was run by the Presentation Brothers. The brothers left in 1977, and the school closed in 1984. The building was later taken down.
How the Church Was Built
The church was designed by John A. Crawley. He also designed the Church of the Sacred Heart in Hove. The church opened on June 27, 1876. At first, it only had the main part (the nave) and the side sections (the aisles).
Crawley had bigger plans, including transepts, a special area for the nuns (the choir), and a tower with a spire. However, he passed away in 1881 before his full design could be completed.
Starting in 1880, people made annual trips, called pilgrimages, to the church every July. These trips came from the cathedral in Southwark. Later, after 1965, a new diocese was formed, and pilgrimages continued from different parishes and groups.
From 1887 to 1889, Francis Bourne worked as a curate at the church. He later became a very important leader, the Archbishop of Westminster, and a cardinal.
In 1896, under the guidance of architect Frederick Walters, more parts were added. These included the sanctuary, side chapels, and a small bell turret. The side sections were also made taller. The church reopened on July 14, 1896.
Later Additions and Burials
In 1953, the famous writer and historian Hilaire Belloc passed away. He was buried in the shrine church. He often attended Mass there. In 1964, a tower was built in his memory. The architectural firm Riley & Glanfield oversaw this work.
On October 31, 2012, Nona Byrne, a kind person who gave a lot to charity, also passed away. She was buried in the church as well.
Parish Life
The area served by this church, called the parish, includes a unique place. It is the only Carthusian monastery in the United Kingdom built after the Reformation, called St. Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster.
The shrine church holds Mass services on Saturday evenings at 6:00 pm and on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. The parish also serves Corpus Christi Church in Henfield, which has Sunday Mass at 9:00 am.
Images for kids
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Our Lady of Consolation painting
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Church interior
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Hilaire Belloc's grave
See also
- List of places of worship in Horsham District
- History of Christianity in Sussex
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
