St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church, Malmesbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church |
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St Aldhelm's Church from Cross Hayes
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 St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church
Location in Wiltshire
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church
Location in England
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| 51°34′59″N 2°05′46″W / 51.583°N 2.096°W | |
| OS grid reference | ST 93413 87131 |
| Location | Malmesbury, Wiltshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1875 |
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| Dedication | St Aldhelm |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Malmesbury |
| Deanery | St Aldhelm |
| Metropolis | Archdiocese of Birmingham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Clifton |
| Province | Ecclesiastical province of Birmingham |
| St Aldhelm's Presbytery | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: St Aldhelm's Presbytery | |
| Designated | 30 June 1976 |
| Reference no. | 1269513 |
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church is a special church in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England. It was built a long time ago, in 1875. The church is named after St Aldhelm, who was an important person who lived in Malmesbury. He was also the leader, or abbot, of the famous Malmesbury Abbey nearby. The building next to the church, called the presbytery, is also very old and important. It is a "Grade II listed building," which means it's protected because of its history.
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Church Buildings and Features
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church is built from stone that was not cut into perfect blocks. It has special carved stone details called ashlar dressings. The church is designed in a style called Gothic, which was popular in the 14th century.
The church is set back from Cross Hayes, which used to be the town's market. The front of the church faces this area. It has a large window with two parts and a special three-leaf shape at the top. On each side of this window are two simple, tall, narrow windows.
The Presbytery
Right next to the church's courtyard is the presbytery. This building is where the priests live. It is a "Grade II listed building," meaning it is historically important. Part of it used to be a stable in the 1800s. It was built with squared limestone. Later, a new part was added to the back using rough limestone.
Special Stained-Glass Window
In 2022, a beautiful stained-glass window was put into the church. This window is dedicated to Blessed Carlo Acutis. He was a young person who used technology to share his faith. The window was added to help connect with younger people who attend the church.
Since May 2024, more visitors have come to the church. This happened after it was announced that Carlo Acutis would become a saint.
New Parish Hall Plans
In 2023, the church asked for permission to build something new. They wanted to take down some old buildings north of the church courtyard. In their place, they planned to build a new parish hall. This new building will replace the old clubroom. It will have modern facilities and more space for the growing church community. Wiltshire Council gave full permission for the building in April 2024. Construction is expected to start within three years of that decision.
Church History
The church was started in 1875 by a French priest named Francois Larive. He was the first missionary from the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales to work in England. The idea for a church in Malmesbury came from Captain Charles Goddard Dewell. He was born and grew up in Malmesbury.
How the Idea Began
Father Larive and Captain Dewell met in 1858 in India. Captain Dewell had recently become a Catholic after getting sick while serving in Italy. He really wanted to start a Catholic church in his hometown. After many talks with Father Larive, they decided to make this happen in Malmesbury.
Finding a Location
In 1861, Father Larive and Dewell came to Malmesbury. They chose Cross Hayes House, which Captain Dewell owned, as the site for the church. There were some delays, so the house was not ready until 1867. In that year, Captain Dewell became a "lay brother" in the Society of Jesus. He opened a school, even though many local people, including the local politician, were against it.
A temporary church was set up on some land next door in 1869. This temporary church was used until the current church opened on July 1, 1875. Father Larive named the church after St Aldhelm. He was the town's patron saint and the first abbot of Malmesbury Abbey from 675 to 705.
St. Joseph's Primary School
The place where the old temporary church stood later became St. Joseph's Primary School. It was run by the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy, whom Father Larive had worked with before. The school stayed there until 1933. Then, it moved to its current location on Holloway Hill.
